Copper thieves target Habitat home built for disabled veteran

Copper thieves target Habitat home built for disabled veteran
December 29, 2011

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- A house for a disabled veteran, built by veterans is a shining example of humanity.

After a year of hard work and grueling fundraising, volunteers had finally put the finishing touches on the place, with a brand new boiler and all the trimmings, when the thieves severed pipes, busted out a window and left holes in the drywall.

"We have a homeowner who is in a wheelchair. He desperately needs to live close to the VA hospital and this was going to be his home in what we thought would be no more than two weeks,” said Habitat for Humanity’s Executive Director Suzanne Williams.

Construction Manager Michael Brownfield said, "They took a big rock and threw it through the window and literally busted out the window. It made a lot of noise. I mean they weren't quiet about it."

The brazen thieves caused as much as $10,000 in damage, trying to dig out whatever copper piping they could find.
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UPDATE

CNY HVAC supplier to help Habitat home damaged by copper thieves

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- An act of vandalism was followed up by an act of kindness after a local man stepped up to help repair damage at a Habitat for Humanity house targeted by copper thieves this month.

After hearing the story on the news, VP Supply Corporation's Christopher Maroney says he will either salvage a damaged boiler in the home or replace it.
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