YULEE, Fla. – A Yulee family is making their plea to the community after a vehicle containing their only means of income was taken from right in front of their home.
The family owns "It's a Beautiful Lawn" and they keep all of their equipment in a trailer that sits outside their home. On Wednesday a truck and the trailer were stolen leaving the family with no means to support themselves.
The thieves not only took their business, but also broke into their home. Owner Michelle Reuter describes how the truck and trailer used for her family's lawn care and landscaping service disappeared.
"They found that the house had been broken into and the tractor-trailer has been taken, along with the host, along with a host of other things," Reuter said.
Reuter says her family was on vacation when her and her husband heard their home had been burglarized, and the truck and trailer that they use for business that carries more than $20,000 worth of equipment had been stolen.
"We got the phone call and we headed home right away, and found that someone had taken a livelihood," said Reuter.
Their livelihood supported their five children and the only way of life the family has known for 17 years.
"In our truck and trailer we had all of the equipment that we need to run our lawn and landscape business. Mowers, edgers weedeaters blowers, things important to our industry," said Reuter.
A police report was filed with the Nassau County Sheriff's Office. An investigation was started.
"It's a 16-foot trailer with our name all over the side. The truck is also had our business name all over it," said Reuter.
"We thought we took as many precautions as we could have to not have it happened to us. It can happen, and it can happen to anybody. This is a great community. We don't want to see it become an area where crime is okay," said Reuter.
If you know anything contact the Nasssau County Sheriffs Office at 904-225-0331.