Costa Mesa community creates GoFundMe to help tennis center after repeat burglaries

COSTA MESA, Calif. (KABC) -- A beloved community establishment, Costa Mesa Tennis Center (CMTC), was burglarized three times in three weeks, but the community is helping owner Hank Lloyd rebuild after devastating losses.

Lloyd and his wife have dedicated their lives for more than 20 years to owning and operating the CMTC. While the city owns the property, Lloyd organizes tournaments, teaches lessons and stocks the pro shop with merchandise.

"It's a passion for me and working with the kids and the families and everyone involved. It's just been the best thing I could possibly think of doing," Lloyd said.

To Lloyd's dismay, earlier this summer, someone broke down the side door and burglarized the store. They took five days worth of cash deposits, according to Lloyd.

Following the first break-in, Lloyd added security measures to the doors and windows. However a few days later, someone broke in again.

Lloyd said that the burglars managed to rip off the security bars from the outside. They then ripped the alarm off the wall and stole merchandise.

A week later, burglars broke in through the bathroom window for the third time.

"It was one after each other and then you try to shore it up...and come through again, and so it was difficult," Lloyd said.

When things seemed to be at their worst, someone told Lloyd about a GoFundMe page that the community put together in secret. Donations were pouring in from community members to help Lloyd with the financial losses.

"It makes it so like a big family, if you will, so we're really blessed to have that and (I'm) taken back by it all to be honest with you," Lloyd said.

Lloyd plans to use the money raised from the GoFundMe account for a new ice machine and surveillance cameras.