Frustration and disappointment are the feelings leaders at Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads said they felt after someone had stolen thousands of dollars worth of tools.
Organizers said the crime forced them to cancel their 100th birthday celebration for former President Jimmy Carter, a long-time Habitat for Humanity champion.
Frank Hruska, the Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity South Hampton Roads, said thieves slipped through a razor-barbed wire fence and stole $ 5,000 worth of tools from the organization's Tidewater Drive location.
The theft happened early Tuesday morning – the same day the non-profit planned to celebrate former President Carter's 100th birthday and recognize his contributions to affordable housing.
The incident forced the cancellation of the celebration and delayed an affordable housing project in Chesapeake.
"I think it was at least two people because they had to climb over two big garbage cans, and they must have filled all the garbage cans with tools, and you could see in the grass when they dragged them out," said Hruska. "Everyone knows that Habitat designs to build houses like this for working class and low-income families."
The tools stolen from the truck included battery-operated power drills and framing guns.
"So when they steal from me, they are really stealing from the whole community," said Hruska. "And now I gotta take money away from where I would be using to help families, to buy tools, to someone who is very inconsiderate."
In response to this crime, Hruska said the community stepped in to help the area's Habitat for Humanity buy back the tools.
"Maybe we feel angry and disappointed, but at the end of the day, the community came together, and we fixed this," he said.
