Habitat: Habitat Niagara and Alastair Davis

habitat: When the team of 35 volunteers arrived on Monday for the first major day of construction, they found the handle and lock to the trailer had been snapped off, according to Hamilton Spectator. Fortunately, many of the volunteers arrived with their own tools, and the frame of the house and roof were still able to be put up, however, Habitat Niagara said they need the missing tools to ensure they can complete the project on time. "This is unrepresentative of the area," said Habitat Niagara CEO, Alastair Davis. "The neighbours we've spoken to are in shock and concerned that this happened in their community, and we're deeply disappointed that someone would do this, especially to a charitable organization that builds homes for families in need of decent and affordable housing." The house is supposed to be finished by December, at which time Carlos Flores and his wife Rocio and their four children are supposed to move in. The home, which is being built in Fort Erie to support a family who fled El Salvador after gang violence threatened their lives, was supposed to begin taking shape this week, but those efforts have been set back by thieves who stole about $10,000 worth of tools needed to complete the project. "It is a hard hit for Habitat Niagara and is very frustrating," said Habitat Niagara construction manager, Craig Brown. "Literally every hammer, tape measure, drill, saw, air compressor and impact driver was stolen — they even took our camera that used to take photos of our volunteers." A trailer owned by Habitat Niagara was parked outside the construction site on the Crescent Road. Habitat Niagara is asking anyone with information about the theft or anyone who has seen people trying to sell stolen tools to contact the Niagara Regional Police. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.