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MARYSVILLE-

Thieves broke into a Habitat For Humanity construction trailer making off with $10,000 in tools that were being used to construct a home for a family of 12.

The trailer was parked at the D Street headquarters for the Yuba-Sutter Habitat for Humanity sometime Saturday evening or early Sunday morning.

Besides power saws, pneumatic hammers, jack hammers and generators, hand tools used by trainees of the YouthBuild program were taken.

UPDATE: Some of the Stolen Habitat for Humanity Tools Recovered

“This rack back there usually has 22 tool belts on it,” Construction Educator Kavin Connor said as he pointed toward the nearly empty trailer.

He said the program helps youth learn a trade that can change their lives.

Marin Sanchez is working on a four bedroom home for a family of four. His fellow trainees and other volunteers were not there because their tools were stolen.

“We’re helping people and we can’t help them if we don’t have no tools or nothing,” said Sanchez.

“It puts a family behind waiting to move in,” Sandy Waterhouse, who heads the YouthBuild program for Habitat, said Thursday.

A Salvation Army transitional housing project is also stalled, but not for lack of volunteers.

“We can’t even have anybody else come out here until we get the proper tools and equipment for them to use,” said Waterhouse.

The tools were marked with numbers preceded by a “C” or and “E” and are painted with markings in green or yellow. The group has gotten pledges of support from community members and businesses, but those tools or donations have yet to materialize. Meanwhile the projects are moving slowly with volunteers using what tools are remaining.

Those wanting information about helping to replace stolen tools can contact Carla Rogers at (530) 742-2727 ext. 219, or Kavin Connor at (530) 315-4328.