Habitat For Humanity Robbed in Illinois May 5, 2008

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois - Thieves broke into two Habitat for Humanity trailers Wednesday night and stole $10,000 worth of tools.  Saws, air compressors and power tools were taken which leaves seven families without a place to call home.  The locked trailers hold the tools that the 2,700 volunteers use to build Habitat homes all over the Quad Cities.  Seven homes are supposed to be built this year.

“Everybody here works on a volunteer basis.  For somebody to come in and do this is just a slap in the face,” said construction director Ron Tuftee.

The trailers have been parked at a seven lot Habitat site in Rock Island since last fall.  Alma Grimmett’s home was finished this January.  She would have never become a homeowner without Habitat.

“I’m in shock right now, I can’t believe this happened.”

Alma says Habitat didn’t just give her home; they’re building up the neighborhood, a labor of love being torn apart. 

“Habitat is here to help people have their dreams come true, so to speak.  And look what’s happened, people have taken that away.”