NATCHEZ — A half-completed Habitat for Humanity house in Natchez has been vandalized.
Habitat for Humanity’s Natchez volunteer coordinator Duncan McFarlane said last week that he discovered extensive damage done to the central heating system of the home.
“They cut the wires to get the copper,” McFarlane told The Natchez Democrat. “They also stole a compressor, a saw and a few extension cords.”
McFarlane said Habitat officials await an estimate on how much it will cost to replace the central heating system and then will file an insurance claim.
Natchez Police said the case remains under investigation. Detective Jerry Ford said he suspects someone forgot to lock a window or door to the unoccupied home, allowing the vandals to get inside.
“We didn’t find any signs of forced entry,” he said.
Anyone with information about the incident can call Crime Stoppers at 601-442-5000.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that uses volunteer labor to build affordable housing for low-income families. One of the requirements is that each eligible adult in the family must put in 250 hours of work at the construction site, known as “sweat equity.”
The home was being built for a married couple with four children.
“It’s just frustrating,” McFarlane said. “We are trying to build houses for lower income families and to have someone come and do this — it just makes you mad.”
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