EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
With these warmer temperatures, many are turning on their air conditioners, but some have been surprised to find, they're not there.
Police say they've had several reports of air conditioner thefts recently.
A police bulletin recapping just the past two days, reveals that two businesses and two homeowners have reported their air-conditioner either missing, or cut open.
EPD PIO Sgt. Jason Cullum says that they commonly receive reports like this at this time of year.
He says that there are cases when people simply want to steal an air conditioner because they can't take the heat, but that it is more likely that thieves are after the valuable copper wiring contained inside the unit.
Cullum says that it is also likely many of these thefts occurred months ago during times of colder weather, and now that people are turning the AC on, they are just now realizing someone has tampered with the unit.
"It depends on what the market value is. A few days ago, it got really high and we were getting slammed. It went back down over the last year or so, but it kind of fluctuates," Cullum told 14 News.
Cullum also says that there isn't much that anyone can do to protect an AC unit, other than remaining extra vigilant, and reporting what you see to the police.
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