Over $10,000 of material stolen from Habitat’s build site on SE 204th and Stark

September 28, 2011 (Gresham, Ore.) — The Gresham Police Department is responding to a theft of property at Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East’s Victoria Cottages build, leaving the site without a truck or tools that are essential to building homes for local families.  The theft was discovered when construction staff and volunteers arrived to the site, located on SE 204th and SE Stark in Gresham, Oregon, this morning.  As soon as they entered the site, staff noticed that the organization’s pick-up truck was missing and the tool trailer had been broken into and stripped of over $8,000 in brand new power tools and construction materials.
“It is a shame that this happened,” said David Bonn, Vice President of Housing Development.  “We rely on donations to purchase materials needed to build homes for hardworking, deserving families.  So now we will have to raise funds to replace the truck and tools needed to run this site.”
Victoria Cottages will become homes for eight local, hardworking families.  It is Habitat’s most recent build site, and part of their latest fundraising campaign efforts to bring homeownership opportunities to neighborhoods that need it most.
To donate to Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East’s tool and truck fund, which will be used to replace the stolen items, visit their website at habitatportlandmetro.org and select Truck and Tool Fund as the program designation, or contact Erika Read at 503-287-9529 x16.