AUSTIN, Texas — The Travis County Sheriff's Office is investigating after longtime nonprofit TreeFolks said it's had two burglaries recently.
"Someone had stolen our truck, wrecked it and left it on the side of the road," TreeFolks Executive Director Andrew Smiley said.
Smiley said that was two weeks ago. He thought it was an isolated incident, but overnight Saturday morning, the nonprofit was hit again. He said the thieves broke the entrance, got into the headquarters and cut the locks off of the storage units.
"Once they were inside the storage units, they then stole the lawn mower, weed eater and several other pieces of equipment that we use for the tree planting," Smiley said.
Smiley said the thieves also stole TreeFolks' truck and broke the windows out of two SUVs on the property.
Smiley said the nonprofit now has about $90,000 in damage and stolen goods.
"Really frustrating and disheartening," Smiley said. "We're hoping that insurance will at least meet us part way with that, but still replacing a lot of the stuff and, you know, considering all the deductibles – it's going to cause a pretty big hit for us."
Smiley said TreeFolks recently installed a temporary surveillance camera while the group waits for the official set.
"We did have to invest in new heavy-duty locks," Smiley said.
Even with new security upgrades, TreeFolks has to quickly replace the tools needed for its mission of over three decades: planting trees to provide floodplain reforestation and shade in Central Texas, especially in underserved communities.
"The air temperature can be like 5 or 6 degrees hotter as compared with parts of town where there is good tree cover," Smiley said.
The thefts are also impacting the nonprofit's efforts to upkeep trees already planted, which is what it does during the summer months.
Tree-planting season is just two months away, and the community can help by donating or volunteering. That would put a smile back on Smiley's face.