Copper thieves strike 10 times in Richland Hills

RICHLAND HILLS -- Baby, it’s not cold inside.

That’s because thieves have been on a torrid pace in the past few days, stealing copper tubing from more than 10 air conditioners at strip shopping centers and buildings in the city.

In one incident, thieves even took off with the air conditioner.

Thieves took copper tubing from two large commercial air conditioners Thursday morning from a church under construction in the 6600 block of Baker Boulevard, police said.

“In the past, we’ve seen sporadic cases of copper tubing thefts,” Richland Hills Det. Tye Bell said Thursday. “But we’ve had numerous thefts of tubing from air conditioners in the last five to six days.”

The theft spree began Sunday and thieves haven’t let up this week.

On Sunday, thieves stole copper tubing from five air conditioners in the 6500 block of Baker Boulevard. The next day, they took copper from four air conditioners in the 6300 and 7400 blocks of Baker Boulevard.

On June 5, thieves stole two air conditioners in the 7600 block of Glenview Drive.

The thieves took copper conduit from a building in the 2500 block of Handley Ederville Road on June 4.

Patrols have increased on Baker Boulevard and other business areas in the city, Bell said, in an attempt to catch the thieves.