ORLANDO, Fla. — Thousands of dollars worth of construction materials were stolen from a Lake Nona area development off Narcoossee Road.
The thieves struck on Christmas Day because they knew no one would be working, police said.
According to investigators, the thieves ignored a no trespassing sign and came onto one job site to steal $2,000 in construction materials. They then went next door and took another $4,000 in wiring and piping.
It's a trend that homebuilders are seeing more of as new home construction increases.
"All these developments are in remote areas so I think it's more vulnerable for thefts to occur," Scott Merritt with the Homebuilders Association of Metro Orlando said.
Thieves are often after bigger items as well, like refrigerators, dishwashers and stoves already installed before residents move in. Some builders are starting to put GPS tracking devices on the items in case they get stolen.
The company heading the construction projects told WFTV this is the first time they've had a theft at its Lake Nona development.