SPANAWAY, Wash. -- A local outdoor supply store is pitching in to help replace dozens of public lifejackets that were stolen from two Pierce County lakes.

The program, headed by Central Pierce Fire & Rescue and the Safe Kids coalition of Pierce County, made 20 free loaner lifejackets available at a kiosk at Spanaway Lake in late June. Four days later, there were only two left, and the others were presumed stolen.

Central Pierce bought 20 more lifejackets using money donated from a private citizen, but six days after those jackets were made available, 15 were stolen.

"One or two a year is understandable, but nearly 40 is sad," said Matt Holm with Pierce County Fire and Rescue.

"They're taking away from the honest people and I don't think that's right," added parent Sabrina Stanley.

There's no life guard on duty at the lake and Stanley's 4-year-old can't swim.

"His floaties just popped so it's awesome and go ahead and grab some lifejackets," she said.

Holm says the whole purpose of the life jacket loaner program is to allow children and adults the opportunity to play in and around the water safely. Whether you swim or not, it's the law for those 12 and under to have a life jacket.

So the Problem Solvers contacted Cabela's outdoor supply store in Lacey to replenish the stolen stock.

"These life jackets are just our way of saying thanks to the community and letting us be a part of it," said Tom Prewit with Cabela's.

The store donated 40 new life jackets, valued at about $1,000 total. .... valued at a grand.

"To have them disappear in such a short time was heartbreaking and extremely excited when KOMO got involved," Holm said.

No changes are planned for the new batch of life jackets -- firefighters still have faith in labeling and loaning. In fact, they say disappearances have dropped off since we put the word out that we're watching your back.