Thieves Steal 27 AC Units in Hiram

It's a rough time to be without air conditioning, but for businesses in a local office park a criminal is to blame for the high temperatures. Twenty-seven air conditioning units were stolen and hauled off in the middle of the night. Police said there has been no sign of the thieves.

When the air wasn't working at Allen Aold's Hiram chiropractic office, he called in a repairman.

'He [came] back in and said [you're going to] need more than a service call, said every one of them is gone," recalled Aold.

Twenty-one air conditioning units were stolen from the office park on Wendy Bagwell Parkway earlier this week. Then Thursday night, police said thieves went back and stole six more units.

"It took a while I imagine to do it, then to come two nights later," said Aold.

Investigators said the thieves pulled the fuse then made a few quick cuts with bolt cutters.

Hiram police say they've been contacting scrap metal and recycling centers to try and track down the thieves. Investigators said the thieves were probably stealing the units for the copper inside.

That amounts to about $60 a unit and each one of the 27 stolen units costs about $4,000 to replace.

As new units are installed, extra precautions are being taken and the units are being bolted down.

Police say people should keep their eyes open for any unusual activity at office parks or businesses. Repair men won't be working in the middle of the night.