AC thefts becoming epidemic in Maricopa

Hardly a day goes by in Maricopa when there isn’t at least one call to the Maricopa Police Department about the theft of an air conditioning unit or the copper from inside the unit.

In early December, four calls were placed on the same day to MPD for ACs stolen or damaged in The Villages subdivision.

Peg Chapados, former president of The Villages’ HOA, said the community had more than a dozen units stolen in November and December.

“It seems to be happening most near the wall along Fry’s,” she said. “They are hitting both vacant and occupied homes.”

MPD said the majority of these thefts are occurring at vacant homes with “for sale” signs in front of them. Investigations show thieves are dismantling the AC units and returning to the residence or business at a later time to pick up the dismantled parts.

A recent MPD database search revealed there were as many as 45 incident reports on AC thefts in the past six months. There were two other reports on the theft of copper wire.

“This is an issue we are continuously trying to address,” Chief Steve Stahl said.

He said it is a problem nationwide and not specific to Maricopa.

However, in cities like Maricopa where many residents only occupy their homes seasonally, AC units are more likely to targeted, Stahl said.

Shane Phillips owns Absolute Air Comfort, a business that sells and installs AC units in Maricopa. He said he has seen a 300 percent to 400 percent increase in the number of thefts in the past three months.

“Typically I see the problem when I replace a unit,” he said.

Phillips has been in business for about two years, working primarily in Maricopa.

He said when he calls suppliers and says he is from Maricopa, they usually make a comment that they’ve heard about the theft problem. 

“The word’s out there are a lot of vacant homes here, foreclosed and waiting to be sold and they are targets,” he said. “It’s a big problem in our industry.”

Phillips said he is getting more requests to install an alarm that sounds when someone tampers with an AC unit.

The alarm, which is installed about 12 feet out of reach from the unit, will go off if someone tries to cut a wire or remove a bolt, he said.

Phillips said the alarm is a deterrent and cannot prevent a theft like a cage that encloses the unit.

“It will scare someone away,” he said. “As long as there is a threat it will keep sounding until the batteries go out.”

However, at a cost of $225 per unit, an alarm is cheaper and much easier to install than a cage, which must be bolted to a concrete pad underneath the unit, which most homes in Maricopa don’t have, he said.

The cost of new AC units range from $2,500 to $3,000, Phillips said, and many homeowners insurance deductibles are $5,000.

He said the thieves are stealing mostly the coils, which can bring in $30 to $40 a unit when sold as scrap metal.

Phillips said he has heard rumors thieves are coming into town with landscape trailers to stay under the radar.

“They loosen things up during the day and come back at night to take it,” he said.

A local metal recycler contacted by InMaricopa.com said they do not get many people at their business trying to sell copper.

“We mostly buy aluminum cans and steel,” said Lisa Meyers of Meyers Family Recycling. “We don’t pay top dollar for copper, so they take it into Phoenix.”

Meyers owns the business on Teel Road in Thunderbird Farms with her husband, Pat.

“Most of stuff we get is yard clean up,” she said.

Meyers said they do know where their sellers get their metal.

“No more than what they tell us,” she said.

Meyers said they do require that sellers show identification and they are held accountable for anything they sell.

Stahl, the police chief, advised residents to set up neighborhood watches and work with police.

“Citizens know their neighborhood better than anybody else,” he said. “Be as good a witness as you can.” 

To report copper theft or any other suspicious activity, call:

911
520-866-5111, MPD nonemergency
520-316-6900, Silent Witness

Maricopa Police Department tips:

• Install or improve the lighting over air-conditioning units.
• Remove landscaping, fencing or other objects around air conditioners that impede a clear view of the area.
• Use an engraver to note the house’s address onto various places on the air-conditioning unit, such as the cover or other conspicuous locations.
• Engrave any copper tubing with an address.
• Remove the exterior of air-conditioning units and spray paint copper tubing with a fluorescent orange or green paint.
• Post  “beware of dog” signs or “area under surveillance” signs around property.
• Consider getting a dog.
• Be a good neighbor. Participate in Neighborhood Watch activities. For more information on neighborhood programs contact Sgt. Hal Koozer at 520-316-6878.
• Be a good witness. Be observant of the physical attributes of suspicious people, also the license plate, make and model of suspicious vehicles.
• Report suspicious activity or subjects to police — if something or somebody looks out of place immediately call police.
• Call 911 in the event of an in-progress theft or any other crime.