Authorities are trying to determine who stole more than $2,500 worth of copper from downspouts and gutters at a Salisbury church.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office said thieves took a dozen downspouts a month ago from Salem Lutheran Church and apparently returned this week for more.
Someone who routinely walks at the church, located on Sherrills Ford Road, for exercise noticed Wednesday a pile of damaged downspouts at the edge of a wooded area on the church property. It appeared the thieves were going to return to take more, a spokesman said.
The damaged spouts were valued at $3,000.
The stolen copper downspouts, which were valued at $2,640, were believed to have been taken Aug. 5.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office at 704-216-8700 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.