Chuck Beaton, construction manager for Habitat for Humanity in Regina, said work on seven homes has been disrupted after $7,000 worth of tools were stolen from a job site. (CBC)  

 Regina volunteers for Habitat for Humanity projects are expressing shock and disgust after someone broke into a work site and took off with expensive tools needed for their projects.

The theft took place some time before Thursday morning, disrupting the work schedule for a home under construction in Regina.

"We've completely stopped everything. There's nothing we can do," Chuck Beaton, construction manager for Regina's Habitat for Humanity, told CBC News on Friday. "One of the main items gone was a generator. We don't have power yet so we can't really do anything."

Beaton said that the group has seven homes on the go and the work schedule for all of them would have to be pushed back. He said insurance would cover only a portion of the value of the loss. The tools cost around $7,000.

'I find it pretty disgusting that of all people to steal from is a non-profit.'— Chuck Beaton, Regina Habitat for Humanity

He said the theft is very hard on a non-profit organization.

""We're here trying to help out these neighbourhoods, help out these families," Beaton said. "I find it pretty disgusting that of all people to steal from is a non-profit organization that's trying to rebuild the inner city."

Beaton said volunteers who arrived to work on the home Thursday morning were disappointed. They had hoped to get exterior siding completed during the day.

"We have regular volunteers who come out and they work as hard as we do and they love what they do," Beaton said. "For this to happen, even in their eyes, is atrocious."

Beaton said the group will now buy a storage trailer for job-site tools and move it to a safe location after hours.

"We've got to the point where we can't afford to leave anything anymore," he said.

Work will likely resume early next week, Beaton said, and he was hopeful the project would still be finished in time for the needy family to move in before Christmas.