A local business lost about $12,000 worth of tools between Tuesday and Wednesday when unknown thieves pilfered their storage trailer at a construction site on Deer Forest Road.

John Wayne Johnson of Johnson’s Trim and Construction spent about $2,000 Wednesday just to get the tools necessary to keep working, he said. But overall, he lost about six times that amount.

“It wasn’t a good day yesterday,” he said on Thursday. “I hope they can catch them somehow or another.”

Johnson said the company lost about six saws, six electric drills, 15 nail guns, hundreds of feet of extension cords and air horses and more.

“They even had enough nerve to steal my grill that we cook on at lunchtime,” Johnson said. “That really ticked me off.”

The company is building a house on Deer Forest Road, Johnson said. He plans to put up extra security at the site this weekend.

“The homeowner wasn’t really happy about all this,” Johnson said.

The thieves even jumped onto the back porch, leaving their footprints in the freshly-poured cement, and traipsed through the house, Johnson said.

“They got everything they could see,” he said, but noted they didn’t mess with small hand tools like hammers and also left all the ladders behind.

Johnson said he hopes pawn shop owners in the area will be on the alert for someone selling a large number of power tools.

“To me, it’s got to be drug addicts, somebody trying to get money for their addiction,” Johnson said. “People’s out here trying to make a living, an honest living, and people go and steal your stuff.”

Anyone who has information is asked to call Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. Callers to Crime Line never have to give their names or appear in court, and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.