Thieves steal lawn equipment from teen working to provide for family, sick mother

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) - A 17-year-old girl is searching for help after thieves stole her lawn equipment.

Now, she's finding a way to make ends meet for her family.

Tyler McClain runs two small businesses, mowing lawns and baking cupcakes.

She spends most of the summer in the Tulsa heat, mowing lawns for those who can't.

Tyler is a senior this year at Union High School, but wise beyond her years.

"There's better in this lifestyle, you just have to know how to make your way around it," she said.

Tyler has been mowing lawns since she was 12 and recently started baking and selling cupcakes.

"I am using it to be able to help my mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, and to get a truck to haul my equipment," she said.

But someone recently stole Tyler's lawn gear.

"All my equipment is gone– my lawnmower, weed eater, blower, trimmer– all of my equipment I came up with this year," she said.

Now, Tyler's back to square one.

"It hurts, it hurts," she said. "What I go through on a daily basis, it isn't easy."

Tyler's mother, Talisha, can't work because of her illness.

"It hurts as a mother to see my daughter hurt because I don't have the means and the money to go and buy new lawn equipment," she said.

Tyler gets up every day to help ensure her family has everything they need.

"Everything I have ever had, I had to work for," she said.

Tyler is hoping thieves think of that the next time they want to steal from someone.

"Got to work for everything in this life," she said. "Nothing is free."

If you would like to donate toward Tyler getting new equipment, you can visit her GoFundMe page.