Copper theft has become such a problem in Central Texas that nonprofit organizations aren't even immune.
Delwin Goss is a Habitat for Humanity volunteer. Just last Tuesday, when he went to work on a house in East Austin, his heart sank. Copper thieves had paid a visit.
"Somebody had come in and cut off the wires up above the electrical panel on all the home runs. Which basically meant we had to wreck out all the wiring we had just put in three days earlier," Goss said.
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Copper thieves
Habitat for Humanity homes under construction in East Austin have been targeted by copper thieves.
 
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Thieves had torn out copper wiring all over the house. The house is sheet-rocked and repaired now, but the culprits yanked out rafters, boxes and walls just to get to the metal.
Goss takes the hit very personally. Not only is he a volunteer, but he's also a Habitat recipient. Goss is supposed to move into the home where he discovered the crime.
"We had eight guys that gave up their Saturdays that came out here and worked for free eight hours on Saturday. You come back two days later, and somebody's destroyed everything you've done," Goss said.
Goss' house isn't the only Habitat home targeted by copper thieves. They are striking everywhere, even marking the Habitat signs with graffiti. Habitat is now boarding up unfinished homes in hopes of staving off copper culprits.
Thieves also ripped copper out of a home that Travis County
Sheriff's deputies spent more than a year rebuilding. Volunteers spent tireless hours redoing the home of Geneva Houston, also known as Granny. Volunteers had to replace the stolen copper before they could finish it.
