California community rallies to support deaf construction crew after their tools were stolen
GRANADA HILLS, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - A group of hearing-impaired construction workers said they were the target of thieves who took off with their equipment at a job site in the Los Angeles, and now, the community is stepping up to help.
"I felt taken deprived. This is our livelihood," said Michael Litberg, owner of Neverless Construction.
Litberg spoke about the moment he and his deaf construction crew targeted by thieves at a Granada Hills home.
They were at the home for a roof repair gig, one of the first jobs for his new business, where he hires hearing-impaired workers.
"We will seal all the critical areas to make sure that it's waterproof," Litberg shared.
Litberg walked NBC affiliate KNBC through the project they had just last Thursday while they were helping the homeowner, Jan Menapace, during a rainstorm.
"We had a leak and he came to my rescue to fix the leak. The leak went through into my kitchen," Menapace explained.
Menapace said when the men came down from the roof to get a break from the rain, one of the workers noticed something was wrong.
"At first, you didn't know was happening. The guys were signing to each other and they looked like they were looking for something. I said, 'What's going on? Tell me what's going on! I could tell you've looking for something.' They're like, 'Our tools. They were here and they're not here,'" Menapace detailed.
She checked her security cameras and that's when she saw what happened: Two thieves had pulled up and made off with the tools while everyone was inside the house.
"They had batteries blades and saws power tools and a blower," Menapace spoked.
Menapace said she wanted to immediately help, so she posted the workers' story on GoFundMe and within a short time the community stepped up to help.
"People would just come by here and drop off lunch for them, and people calling, and said, 'Can you meet me at Home Depot?' I want to buy you tools,'" Menapace said.
The crew said they quickly found themselves with everything they needed to get the job done.
Menapace hopes someone will recognize the people from the surveillance video and report them to the police.
Now, Litberg is sending this message to the thieves who tried to knock them down, "You took away every means to make a living. It's one thing to steal, and that's bad enough alone, but to steal a man's way to make a living or to provide for their family...If you're watching and you have these tools, shame on you."
Litberg said he is grateful for the outpouring of support and his hoping to give back to the community by helping and training deaf workers in need of a job.
The GoFundMe has a goal of $30,000, with over $21,600 raised so far. If anyone would like to donate to the GoFundMe, click here.
