– You become completely dull, actually. I wasn’t aware that the problem was so big, but this is probably something people have unfortunately become used to, says the gold wholesaler from the Para WC hero.
He parked his car at 6pm on Thursday and found it with a broken window on Friday morning.
Someone has broken in to steal the proof that Pedersen is allowed to park in disabled spaces.
THREE CARS – THREE BURGLARS: Three different cars in the handicap spaces at Pedersen in Oslo have experienced break-ins. Photo: Jesper Saltvik Pedersen
Worth a lot of money
He wasn’t alone, either. Two other cars with HC parking permits had also had their windows rolled up.
– There must have been a raid here last night. It’s really horrible that people go after us with HC evidence to take the evidence, says Pedersen to TV 2.
– Someone I spoke to says that such notes go for five thousand kroner on the black market, he adds.
WC KING: Jesper Saltvik Pedersen went home from the Para WC alpine in Espot with four WC gold medals in his luggage. Photo: Norwegian Ski Association/Lemos Media / NTB
Pedersen has five Olympic gold medals in paraalpine skiing, and recently became WC king with four gold medals in Spain.
During the Sports Gala earlier this year, he was named male para athlete of the year. In addition, he was nominated in the prestigious category Name of the Year.
He says that he himself has never had his HC parking permit stolen from his car before.
– I’ve had the car outdoors for almost two years, but I’ve heard of problems from everywhere between Moss and Bergen. It seems I’ve been lucky so far.
Looking for another solution
He also considers it lucky that he was not traveling right now. Then it could easily take a long time before he discovered it. In the worst case, he himself had been fined for being illegally parked.
The burglary has now been reported to the police.
However, the problem has not gone away. Not by a long shot.
– It is difficult to get a temporary certificate. I have sent a receipt for a police report, but have been told that it can take up to 14 days before they respond to the report.
Pedersen says that he has been told to “park in normal places for so long”.
– It often doesn’t work, because I need space to get the wheelchair out, he sighs.
Now he wants the Ministry of Transport to find a solution other than proof sheets.
– Everyone has probably learned from an early age that you shouldn’t leave valuables visible in the car, but when that note is worth five thousand kroner to some people, you have no choice. You are leaving something valuable there.
He hopes that the tags can be replaced with a solution linked to the car’s registration number.
– It is not possible to continue as now, says Pedersen.
