A Perth mother has been left devastated after a heartless thief stole oxygen bottles her sick baby boy needs to live.

Tekoa Timu was born premature, spending the first seven months of his life in a critical condition in intensive care.

The now 21-month-old requires daily oxygen from cannisters to keep him alive, but yesterday morning a man was caught on camera stealing his supply from out the front of their Kwinana home.
Tekoa Timu oxygen theft
TeKoa Timu needs the oxygen tanks to survive. (9News)
Tekoa Timu oxygen theft
A man was seen taking the six cylinders, which were luckily being replaced, from the front of the family home. (9News)

“It’s not a normal theft, it is lifesaving equipment – he needs it,” Tekoa’s mother Madison Dobels told 9News.

In security footage, a white sedan is seen stopping in the quiet cul de sac, where a man exits and runs towards the family’s home before returning moments later with the six tanks.

Tekoa only goes without oxygen during fortnightly visits to Perth Children’s Hospital.

When he was born, he could last just 45 seconds without it. Now – he can still only manage 15 minutes before he turns blue and starts to wheeze.

His mother orders oxygen twice a week so Tekoa has enough supply. The bottles are regularly swapped out and luckily the stolen cylinders hadn’t yet been replaced.

Tekoa Timu oxygen theft
Madison Dobels can’t understand how someone could do something like that to a baby boy. (9News)
Tekoa Timu oxygen theft
The man was seen exiting a white sedan and going straight for the family’s south Perth home. (9News)

Ms Dobels wants the thief to come forward and return the cylinders they took.

“I don’t think he’d be aware. I can’t imagine someone knowing a kid’s on oxygen and taking it,” Ms Dobels said.

“You wouldn’t be human and if he did know there are no words other than an oxygen thief.”



This content first appear on 9news

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