Wellesley Police Looking For Nonverbal Child's iPad

WELLESLEY, MA — Police have asked for the public's help finding a three-year-old boy's iPad. It isn't just any tablet though. Preston, of Wellesley, has autism and is nonverbal, so the iPad is how he communicates with his parents and the world around him.

Around 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Preston and his mother were in a parking lot in front of an office building at 42 Washington St. in the Lower Falls section of town. Police said mom put Preston's iPad on the ground while she put him in the car, but she accidentally left it behind and didn't realize this until she got home.

Police searched the area, but the iPad was gone. The family was unable to locate the iPad with the find my iPhone app because the device was shut off, police said.

"This special iPad is how three-year-old Preston communicates with his parents and the world around him," Wellesley police said in a Facebook post. "Preston has autism and is unable to communicate verbally. Preston uses a special app called 'GoTalk' that enables and empowers him to be connected to his family in a much easier manner. We are looking to find this special iPad and would like to see it returned to Preston. No questions asked — we just want to find it and get it back to him."

The sixth-generation iPad is black, has a blue case and has "Preston" written on it.

Anyone with information is asked to email Officer Travis Dixon at TDixon@wellesleyma.gov or Officer Mike Pino at MPino@wellesleyma.gov. Good Samaritans can also call the station at 781-235-1212.