A tricycle that gave a young resident of the Tulsa Girls Home a rare sense of independence was stolen in Jenks, Oklahoma, and staff are now asking the public for help tracking it down. Surveillance footage reportedly shows a suspect wearing a white mask taking the tricycle, and a police report has been filed as investigators search for leads.
Staff said the theft hit especially hard because the young resident does not yet know how to ride a bicycle, according to KTUL. In a Facebook post, staff explained that the tricycle gave her independence and freedom she would not otherwise have had. The outlet reported that surveillance footage captured the suspect wearing a white mask during the theft.
Police Ask for Tips as Investigation Continues
A police report has been filed in connection with the theft, and the station's report notes that anyone with information is asked to contact the Jenks Police Department. No suspect has been publicly identified beyond the white mask seen on camera, and it remains unclear whether an arrest has been made. The home's staff turned to social media to spread the word after the theft.
Community Fundraiser Aims to Replace the Tricycle
A community fundraiser is underway to raise the money needed to replace the stolen tricycle, per the same report. Supporters can also help the home through its Amazon Wishlist or by visiting its website, according to the outlet's account. The Tulsa Girls Home has not said how much the fundraiser aims to collect or who is organizing it, but the appeal comes directly from staff caring for the children at the facility.
A Home Built for Girls in Foster Care
Tulsa Girls' Home describes its mission as providing the highest quality residential care for girls who need placement outside their homes within Oklahoma's foster care system, according to Tulsa Girls' Home. The organization says it provides around-the-clock care for abused and neglected girls. The nonprofit also operates a dedicated donation page at tulsagirlshome.org/donate for those who want to contribute directly.
The home's footprint has grown in recent years. It opened a new location in Jenks and planned to leave its original site in Sapulpa that week, as reported by News On 6. That outlet noted the home serves girls in foster care, usually until they turn 18, and that the newer property includes a separate administration building along with space for four townhomes, one of which was nearly complete at the time. This kind of community response is not without precedent in Tulsa: a previous fundraising effort once replaced a youth's stolen tricycle and went on to establish a fund to help other children, according to an archived report from Tulsa World.
For now, the case in Jenks remains open, with police still seeking tips and staff hoping the fundraiser and community support can quickly put a new tricycle back in the young resident's hands.
