GROVELAND, Fla. – Groveland police are looking for a thief who stole a trailer full of soap box-style cars for kids.
The theft forced families to cancel a big race this past weekend. The cars were stolen from a lot off of Wilson Lake Parkway sometime last week.
"Seeing the kids smile, seeing the kids having fun going down the hill," said Sergism Bomm, 17.
"It just hurts. We work hard for kids," said John Bomm. "That trailer was loaded with 16 cars for kids that (were) supposed to be racing."
Bomm created the C/M Box Car Racing program 10 years ago. The program for kids under 17, including those with special needs, holds monthly derby races. It's a free program with donated equipment.
"It hurts. I get to a point that I just want to go upstairs myself and cry, because I feel like I'm failing them, because I'm doing this for them," said Bomm.
Saturday's race was canceled. It would've been a first for six kids.
"They came up here, they fit their cars, they got to pick their cars, sat in them, played around here in the parking lot for their first time and their cars were stolen from out beneath them," Bomm said.
Bomm estimates $19,000 worth of equipment was stolen.
Groveland police said they believe they found several of the cars in a home off Boy Ranch Road. The homeowner is not believed to have known about the theft.
Police are looking for the people who dropped off the trailer.
"I believe it was stolen out of greed. They wanted the trailer, not the cars themselves," said Bomm.
For Bomm, this is just a bump in the road merely slowing them down.
"We will race. We may end up losing a couple of races this year, but it's going to happen. I am not going to give up," said Bomm.
The kids are asking for help identifying the culprit. The kids told News 6 they are not sure when their next race will be because they still need a 7x14 trailer. ?
Anyone with information is urged to call Crimeline.
