‘It’s a miracle’: Pierce County Habitat for Humanity recovers stolen $56K truck

The Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity box truck that was stolen on over the Christmas holiday has been found.

The South Sound charity says someone said the truck’s theft was a setback, because they use the 2017 $56,000 Ford F650 truck every day of the work week to pick up donations such as gently used furniture and construction supplies and bring them to various retail locations. Sales from those donations help fund their work to build homes for those in need.

The truck was so new it was so new, no decals were on it yet, according to KIRO 7.

But calling it a “Christmas or New Year’s miracle,” spokesperson and Chief Philanthropy Officer Sherrana Kildun told KIRO Newsradio the organization got a call Thursday night from someone who saw the truck in Redmond.

“Finding it is such a big deal for us because we couldn’t afford to replace it,” Kildun said.

Kildun told KIRO 7 someone saw the truck on Thursday night and reported it to the Tacoma Police Department. From there, two of the charity’s staff members went to check it out and discovered it was the stolen truck, Kildun said to KIRO Newsradio.

Officers investigated and found that its license plates had already been changed by whoever had stolen the truck, KIRO 7 noted. The truck sustained some damage and it is expected get serviced soon.

Kildun said the community “really stepped up and helped us out” and feels eternally grateful about the resolution to this incident.

“Neighbors helping neighbors. That is exactly what Habitat is all about and that’s what we saw,” Kildun said to KIRO Newsradio Friday.

More on the truck’s theft

Director of operations Ed Dobb told KIRO 7 the suspects slashed power to the building, helping hide the heist.

“There are three or four warehouses and all of the power was cut,” Dobb said.

An employee discovered the damage Tuesday morning.

“She realized the truck was missing and another truck vandalized,” Dobb said. “And the alarm pad had been taken.”

He said burglars also stole a truck battery and their commercial gas cards.

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The Tacoma Police Department said the Habitat for Humanity was only one of two businesses burglarized at the warehouses.

“For someone to come in and damage this business and take away from the community – it’s hurtful,” Tacoma Police Detective William Muse said, according to KIRO 7.

Editors’ note: This item originally was published on Dec. 28. It has been updated and republished multiple times since then. 

Contributing: Steve Coogan, KIRO 7