BAYTOWN, Texas — A youth football program in Baytown is reeling after thieves stole thousands of dollars in equipment.
It happened just hours before the team's first game of the season on Saturday.
The Baytown Broncos football program had stored their team trailer at their practice field behind locked gates.
But that didn't stop thieves from taking the trailer full of helmets, shoulder pads, tackling dummies, and all sorts of other gear.
“We’re an organization, one of the few in the area that we provide all of the equipment for the kids, all the kids need is a pair of cleats and all the girls need is a pair of tennis shoes," said Baytown Broncos President Courtney Correa. "We rely on having those extra things that we had in the trailer. And now they’re gone.”
If you know anything, you're urged to call the police. They're also raising money to replace the stolen gear.
The Baytown community is also stepping up to help.
“Friendswood Teams have offered us chin straps and mouthpieces, a Deerpark team has offered to let us use their extra trailer until we’re able to get one," Correa said. "We’ve been blessed with people reaching out.”
Academy Sports and Outdoors announced on Tuesday that it's donating a $5,000 shopping spree to the team.
"Youth athletes and league organizers will get the opportunity to shop Academy’s wide assortment of team sports gear like football helmets, practice dummies, mouthguards, and more to replace the equipment that was stolen," Academy said in a statement.