Marine veteran and triple amputee Sgt. Nick Kimmel was thrilled when he received a house from the Gary Sinise Foundation, a nonprofit founded by the actor who played double amputee Lt. Dan in ‘Forrest Gump.’ The home was modified to accommodate Kimmel’s injuries, granting the wounded warrior new independence as well as a place to call home.

“To be out on your own is the goal of every person,” Kimmel said at the time. “When you have to rely on someone else all the time it’s cumbersome. I almost feel like I’m burdening them. So now I have a home where I can be by myself, where I don’t have to rely on anyone else. It allows my life to get back to more normality.”

A week after walking through his home for the first time, Kimmel good fortune took a turn for the worse.

Right after moving into his new home, Kimmel went to retrieve his Polaris Ranger ATV from his former Mission Valley apartment’s parking lot. Like his house, the vehicle was modified specifically for his use. When he returned, Kimmel discovered that his ATV had been stolen.

“It sucks that people feel like they have to or need to take what doesn’t belong to them,” he said to the San Diego Tribune.

Kimmel was hit by an IED while serving in Afghanistan in 2011. Due to his injuries, he had to have both of his legs to above the knee and one arm amputated. While Kimmel has adjusted well to his prosthetics, driving remains a challenge in unmodified vehicles. Kimmel likes to use his to go hunting, a hobby that doubles as therapy for the wounded warrior.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Kimmel’s 2-seat Polaris should notify San Diego Police at (619) 692-4800.

(Photo Credit: Charlie Neuman | San Diego Tribune)