Community Rallies Around Non-Profit Targeted By Thieves

A non-profit car care service is back to work after the owner says thieves stole $15,000 worth of tools.

Lonnie Vaughan says after 17 years of helping people fix their cars who can't afford it every Saturday for free losing those tools almost shut the down the operation. Now thanks to donations they are back to helping people.

"Standing here Tuesday in this same building, I felt helpless, I felt hopeless. I wasn't sure what to do. Without our tools we were shut down," said Vaughan.

He says the thieves took all of the tools and equipment they use. When people in the community heard the news thousands of dollars started pouring in to help.

"Without an organization like Car Care Clinic that car is going to go unrepaired, it's going to eventually become unsafe, and then it is going to break down. We want to step in ahead of that curve," said Vaughan.

Vaughan says he started this clinic in his church parking lot to help people with low incomes repair their cars for free or at a low price. He says all of the mechanics are volunteers who just want to give back. Several customers said they rely on this service. 

"How can you do better than to have a heart to volunteer to help, help people like us. That's a tremendous heart," said Suzi Hodges.

After supporting the community for years, Lonnie says after this, he feels the community supporting him.

"They've just come from everywhere. People all day long are coming. And that's what they've been telling me, we know who you are, and we know what you are doing and we are not going to let you fail. We got your back," said Vaughan.

If you have any information about who stole the tools call Tulsa Police.