LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP, Ill. (CBS) — Copper thieves made off recently with thousands of dollars worth of valuable metal from a couple of homes being built by Habitat for Humanity in the southwest suburbs.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports, Annette Leck of Will County Habitat for Humanity says thieves took $8,000 worth of copper from two Habitat houses last week in Lockport Township.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports

A woman and her young daughter were supposed to move into one of the homes later Wednesday.

“We have to raise the funds today in order to replace all that – the $4,000,” Leck said. “Unfortunately, our insurance has a $5,000 deductible.”

Leck said her supplier is providing the replacement materials with the promise that they will be paid for.

She says one house had been worked on by about 300 to 400 volunteers – the largest number of volunteers for a Habitat house in Will County.

“We had St. Barnabas Church in Chicago actually build the walls in their parking lot,” Leck said.

Leck calls the people who took the cooper “despicable.”