Thieves ransack Habitat for Humanity home

HALL COUNTY, Ga. — Burglars broke into a Hall County Habitat for Humanity home under construction and stole thousands of dollars' worth of materials.

The thieves took copper wiring and tools over the New Year's holiday.

"You can see right here where the door was actually kicked in. They broke the jamb," said Habitat for Humanity Hall County President Robert Akin, showing the damage.

Akin showed Channel 2 Action News reporter Tom Regan how the thieves ripped copper wiring out of an electrical panel and from ceilings and walls in the house. He estimated replacing the wiring will cost more than $4,000. In addition, the burglars broke the lock on an outdoor storage pod and made off with nearly $2,000 in tools that student volunteers were using to build the home. They have been working on the project for two months.

 "The high school students were aggravated. They were hurt. All the work they put in, for someone to do something like this, they felt like it was taken from them, which it was," said Akin.

Akin said he believes insurance will cover the cost of replacing the electrical wiring, but he's hoping someone will donate tools to complete the project on schedule. He said the break-in may delay a family from moving into the home for a week.

Habitat for Humanity is asking anyone who has information about the burglary to contact the Hall County Sheriff's Office at 770-531-6900.

WSBTV