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Posted: 5:01 PM Aug 12, 2011
A/C Unit Burglaries Rising in the Stateline
Rockford Police officers have been called to the city's south-east side after more than a dozen central air-conditioning units are stolen from businesses and homes.
Reporter: Whitney Martin |
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3 Comments 
ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- Rockford Police officers have been called to the city's south-east side after more than a dozen central air-conditioning units are stolen from businesses and homes.
It’s becoming a trend nationwide and it's becoming a big problem locally.
"It's upsetting frustrating and it gets expensive,” “it's not a good feeling when you see someone has stolen your stuff,” "I think it's bad" --these quotes are all from Rockford businessmen who work in completely different fields.
However they're losing thousands of dollars to the same problem theft.
"They’re getting away with it so it's more and more prevalent."
The Rockford police department says suspects are stealing air-conditioning units from businesses and homes stripping the expensive devices of copper and then selling it for as little as 30 to 75 dollars.
Total Concept owner Tom Schrader said, "That's the sad part about it, the economy is tough and people are doing what they got to do I guess.”
Total Concept Salon's landlord came up with his own concept to preventing theft he moved the air conditioning units to the roof after they were stolen twice.
One business on old Charles Street nailed the device to metal beams while an auto shop on South Alpine is considering a new security system.
Architect Terry Carbaugh said, "There’s not much we can do, it's sitting outside for the taking I guess.”
Police say in the last month more than a dozen units were stolen from the city's south-east side.
The police department is now deploying extra officers to search for suspects. Owner Mark Leiws with Midas on South Alpine says the problem has gotten so bad thieves are actually stealing "no- trespassing signs" to make some extra cash.
He said, "You're trying to make a living, fixing peoples cars and at the same time, and on the side I have to watch who is stealing from us."
It’s not just air-conditioning units: thieves are also steal scraps from cars and are stripping pipes in newly constructed homes. Some scrap-yards say they just can't track where the pieces are coming from, although they ask for identification when it comes to some copper.
These thefts have become a huge problem on college campuses. Recently, 56 air conditioning units were stolen from Illinois State University.
Police are still investigating the 25-thousand dollar theft.
Latest Comments
ow about checking Craigslist? They haven't been stripping them. Worth more to resell as used and with this weather easy to sell. Why should anybody have to put extra security on when they are already paying protection money to the city? If we had an effective police chief this problem wouldn't be as big an issue.
Limiting the scrap yards will only force the thief to find another way to sell the coils. How about business owners getting pro active and install an alarm system on the A/C like the CopperWatcher.
What scrap yard is taking them, I am sure there being stripped down but you can still tell it's a ac unit?
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What is Crime Stoppers? The Crime Stoppers Program is managed by the Winnebago County Sheriff's office Crime Stopper Division, which is located in the Public Safety Building. The city of Rockford helps pay part of the operating costs of the Division which is staffed by one full time Deputy who acts as the program coordinator, Richard Gambini, and one full time assistant who is employed by Crime Stoppers. View more information on their website. |
| How does it work? People with information regarding criminal activity and fugitive locations are often reluctant to talk to law enforcement officials because they fear retaliation. The Crime Stoppers Program is designed to protect the identity of callers who are never asked their name when they give information, and we do not use caller ID. The caller is assigned a code number, which is used on the information file, and the referral sheet is forwarded to the appropriate agency for the follow up investigation. Callers also use their code to check on the status of the case, add information to the case, report other criminal activity, and to collect their reward. Crime Stoppers pays a cash reward up to $1,000.00 when an arrest is made or a crime is solved as a result of the caller's information. The amount of payment to the Crime Stopper caller is determined by the program coordinator and the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors who meet twice monthly to set the rewards. |
| $1000 REWARD
Callers with information about crimes can call the special Crime Stoppers phone numbers and anonymously give Crime Stoppers information. Each Caller is assigned a number, and if the tip results in an arrest, a reward will be paid. Rewards of up to $1000 will be presented for information that leads to an arrest. Crime Stoppers never asks your name. We do not have Caller ID. Paydates are twice a month.
QUICK 50 Students attending any school in Winnebago County can call the Crime Stoppers numbers and report any crime that has happened on school property involving students. Call to report any student bringing weapons, drugs or alcohol to school. If the information provided results in an arrest, a suspension or both, the caller will receive a reward of up to $50. View More Information on Their Website |
