NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- A New Britain teenager said he's hoping whoever stole his insulin pump will have a heart and give it back.

Ethan Falla said the pump was stolen from a local park where the teen was playing basketball. He said it's so expensive that he can't afford a new one.

The trouble started Tuesday night on the basketball court at Stanley Quarter Park, Falla said. He said he put his insulin pump on a bench while he played a game of basketball.

"I was jumping into a game," Falla said. "I was getting ready to play and my pump was gone."

He said he was stunned because he'd always left stuff on the bench when he was playing basketball and never had a problem.

Falla said he called his father in a panic.

"Ethan's devastated," said the teen's father, Greg Falla. "When he first called, he couldn't speak."

With his family's help, Ethan Falla has searched the park for the last two days, even checking in trash cans. He said his best guess is that someone saw the $20 in small bills that he left with the pump and just grabbed it.

The 17-year-old diabetic said he doesn't care about the money, just the pump.

"I did needles for about 11 years, and then I got the pump and everything started going better," Falla said.

He said the pump, which costs about $6,000, administers insulin and tests his blood sugar on its own. He said his insurance company won't pay for a new one and that his family's homeowners insurance has a high deductible that makes buying a new one that way unrealistic.

Falla said he's using his older pump for now and hoping someone will come forward and return the new one.

"The pump costs a lot of money, but it has no worth to anyone who doesn't have diabetes," he said.

"If they turn it in to police, the police will contact us," Greg Falla said. "We don't want to press charges, we just want the pump back."

Anyone with information is asked to call New Britain police.