EDGEWATER, Fla. – The Florida Shores community has really stepped up to help a young entrepreneur after thieves stole his lawn care equipment last week.
"My grandfather had me cut his grass and I decided, 'Hey, I can do this for a living,'" Diezel Depew said.
Since August, the 12-year-old boy has bought his own lawn care equipment and launched a business called Deez Cuts Lawn Care.
"I mow the lawn, I blow off the driveway, weed wack and I do edging," he said.
But that all came to an end on Thursday, when Depew was cutting someone's yard on 30th Street and Kumquat Drive. Depew said an old, tan SUV rolled up and swiped his equipment from near the garage.
"They just took it all. My blower, my two weed wackers and two gas cans full of gas. I couldn't believe it," he said.
Word spread quickly around town and Brian Traster knew he had to pitch in and help.
"We've had stuff stolen too and I was, like, 'Let's help this young entrepreneur out,'" Traster said.
Traster said he has collected lawn equipment from people around Volusia County and gift cards from Publix and Home Depot.
"It just goes to show you that we're strong, we're united and we help each other out," he said.
And it's a life lesson for the young business owner.
"I'm so happy that they're still good people left in Florida Shores. It feels like Christmas," Depew said.
Depew said when he grows up, he wants to be a professional NASCAR racer and is mowing lawns to save up for a go cart.
The Edgewater Police Department said it is investigating the theft.