A man who had just paid off an $87,000 piece of construction equipment after ten years, found it stolen.

Tommy King, of Estill County was supposed to be helping tornado victims in West Liberty today with his backhoe, but is now just hoping its returned.

"I didn't know what to think when I came to get it and it was gone," Tommy King said.

On Thursday morning, King and his brother went to their auto repair shop off Highway 52 just West of Irvine, when they got there, they immediately noticed the backhoe was missing.

"Why would somebody steal from us, we don't have a lot to begin with," King said.

King says most of his income-comes from jobs he gets because of the backhoe.

"It's my livelihood," he said. "Without it, I can't work or put food on the table."

The model stolen is a 2002 580 Super M Loader Backhoe. King says the driver's side door and passenger's side window are broken out because of storms two-years ago.

"It's still in great shape, and it gets the job done," said King.

King said he was really looking forward to today's job in West Liberty, helping out people who lost everything.

"My brother and I really wanted to help them, but without that piece of equipment, we can't."

Kentucky State Police is investigating. Call the Richmond Post at (859) 623-2404 if you have any information about this case.