MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A real-life Grinch stole tools and a trailer from Habitat for Humanity.
Now, a mother and her son won’t get to move into their new house until after the holidays, and the charity organization is out thousands of dollars.
The thieves caused a big problem in the small town of Grantsburg In northwestern Wisconsin.
Jessica Janes and her son, Jordan, are excited to be building their home with the help of Habitat for Humanity, but the project is halted.
“I can’t believe someone in our community would do something like this,” Janes said.
Thieves broke through a lock and took the trailer containing all their tools.
The crooks didn’t just take from Janes, but all the donors who contributed money and supplies.
“Probably $10,000 to $15,000 worth of stuff was taken between the trailer, and what was in it,” said Eric Kube with Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity.
The charity has insurance, but it will have to pay a $5,500 deductible.
“It’s horrible this time of year, it’s the time of giving and helping, not the time for taking,” Kube said.
The charity now needs more donations to get back to work.
A neighbor saw the trailer (pictured below) being moved last Saturday. He didn’t, however, realize it was being stolen, because so many people have been coming and going while working on the property.
Two people in a white Dodge were seen taking it. The lettering was removed from the trailer’s side, but a shadow of the text is still visible.
The license number is Wisconsin CA48770.
If you’ve seen it, call police.
If you’d like to help the charity, Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. It’s headquartered in St. Croix Falls, Wis. They can be reached at 715-483-2700, email office@wildrivershabitat.org or online at http://www.wildrivershabitat.org.
