All of the tools Lorenzo Diaz uses to make a living disappeared from his driveway in Port St. Lucie in the early morning on Sunday, while Diaz was out of town.
"Not a welcoming feeling to come home to realize your stuff is gone, your livelihood," Diaz said.
He started his own small lawn care business a few years ago, buying a truck, a trailer and all of his equipment for tens of thousands of dollars.
"Trying to make an honest living," he said.
However, everything he uses to operate his business, which services 40 homes in St. Lucie County and a commercial property and ten homes in Palm Beach County, was stolen. He said he locks his truck and trailer, but the thieves managed to get in.
For now, Diaz can't work.
"I should be working right now, not standing here doing nothing," he said. "If I have to push mow every single one of them next week, I’ll start push mowing houses. I’ll do what I have to do to make it happen.”
Since early September, the Port St. Lucie Police Department has received three other reports of stolen Ford trucks or trailers carrying lawn equipment.
Two people also reported attempted burglaries of their trucks and lawn care supplies.
"It was like a second away from pulling off with that truck," said Levon McFadden, owner of McFadden & McFadden Affordable Lawn Services.
McFadden, who lives on the street behind Diaz, said someone broke into his truck, which was attached to a trailer of lawn equipment. However, the steering column broke as the thief tried to start it.
"The first night after it happened we just took turns getting up back and forth looking outside because you really couldn’t sleep," McFadden said. "I don’t feel safe right now."
Three of the stolen trucks have shown up around Miami.
If a burglar crosses county lines to commit a crime, he or she could be charged with a higher degree of burglary, under Florida law.
"I’m praying that yes, I will get my truck and trailer back," Diaz said. "Unfortunately, I know the equipment will be gone. I know it’s going to be a big cost out of my pocket to replace everything.”
Port St. Lucie police are trying to figure out who is responsible for all of this, but they say the problem is not unique to Port St. Lucie.
Police direct anyone with information to contact Detective Al Corona at 772-344-4080 or Detective Mike Cimino at 772-344-4124. You can be anonymous by calling Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 800-273-TIPS (8477).
