By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
A Salisbury Police officer took it upon himself this week to notify neighbors about the rising problems of copper theft from air conditioners.
Lt. Tom Wilsey said he delivered letters to 58 homes in the Milford Hills area near Statesville Boulevard warning neighbors about the increases in copper larcenies and several thefts that have happened within the neighborhood.
“I’m just trying to get people to be on the lookout and for the neighborhood to band together,” Wilsey said.
Wilsey said he decided to send the letters when thieves cut copper pipes out of an air conditioning unit in a home where people were living. Copper thieves typically steal AC parts from abandoned homes.
“There are some older folks that live in the area,” he said. “I wanted to give them a heads up.”
Wilsey said other neighborhoods should be watchful of suspicious persons, also.
“This has been happening all over the city and, for that matter, all over the state.”
Hurley Elementary School is the latest victim in a rash of copper thefts.
The school, at 695 Hurley School Road, had three air conditioners damaged Tuesday night as thieves cut out any copper they could find in the machines.
A Rowan County Sheriff’s Office report said the stolen metal was valued at $200.
Wilsey said to call 911 if you see suspicious persons.
“If you can, try to get some vehicle information,” Wilsey said.
Salisbury Police Spokeswoman Shelia Lingle said the department has been working to notify scrap metal dealers around the county of the increasing thefts.
Lingle said copper thefts are one of the main reasons larceny has had an overall increase in 2011.
Lingle said air conditioning units have been targeted recently by thieves.
“They’re gutting them,” she said. “They’ll take any kind of metal. You can’t trace them like that either.”
If you see anything suspicious, call 911 or Rowan County Crimestoppers at 704-638-5388.