Thieves hit PEP site

Unknown thieves tore through a low-income senior apartment complex under construction on Casa Grande Road sometime over the weekend, hauling away copper piping, phone lines and other wiring in a likely bid to resell the material.

The project is being built by PEP Housing and is about halfway finished, said Kari Millar, PEP's director of fund-raising.

The thieves cut wiring that runs through the building's foundation, meaning the concrete work may have to be redone in some areas, and some sheetrocked walls will have to be re-opened to repair damaged lines, Millar said.

Water lines were also cut, causing some water damage, she said. The nonprofit housing agency is talking with its insurance company about the damages and doesn't yet have a dollar estimate of the losses, she said.

"It's a big hit to us," Millar said. The 58-unit project was supposed to be finished around the end of the year and Millar said it's unknown whether the theft will delay the completion.

Petaluma police are investigating the theft and anyone with information is asked to call 778-4372.

(Contact Corey Young at corey.young@arguscourier.com)