Power tools were reported stolen from the trailer at the Habitat for Humanity site on Azalea Lane on Wednesday, according to the Starkville Police Department.
The trailer was padlocked, but someone cut open the lock and stole about $2,000 worth of hand tools and a chop saw, Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Joel Downey said this morning.
The incident is under investigation, and it happened within the few days before it was reported, SPD Public Information Officer Brandon Lovelady said.
The stolen tools were all marked with blue paint, and Habitat is in contact with local pawnshops to see if any of them turn up there, Downey said. Habitat has already replaced the tools so construction can continue.
“We’re a faith-based organization and our money comes from donations, so when we have to re-divert money to replace tools, that takes away from the money we have to build the houses, so it hurts,” Downey said.
Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity builds two houses per year. Mississippi State University partners with the nonprofit every fall to contribute to the construction of one house, called the Maroon Edition. This year is the 11th annual, and the groundbreaking was Aug. 13. Downey said the walls are already up and builders are starting work on the roof.
The administration and student body “take a great deal of pride” in the collaboration, MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter said this morning.
“It’s terribly unfortunate that someone would choose to engage in theft on anyone’s property, but certainly on Habitat property it’s particularly egregious,” Salter said.
The future inhabitants of the house are Keyana Triplett and her three children, according to the press release.
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