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Copper taken from AC units
Published Thursday, September 11, 2008
NATCHEZ — For the second time in little more than a month copper thieves have victimized a small local church.
Approximately two months ago one of air conditioning units at the 20-member Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church was stolen for its copper.
And on Wednesday it happened again.
S.E. “Spanky” Felter, church member and member of the Adams County Board of Supervisors, said he and his father went to inspect storm damage to the church’s cemetery when they saw the newest theft.
“They were all torn apart,” he said.
Felter said of the church’s five air conditioning units two were completely stripped of their copper and aluminum components and a third was in the process of being dismantled.
Ironically the third unit that was being taken apart was newly purchased and installed — it was the replacement unit from the previous theft.
Felter said he believes thieves were in the process of taking the third unit when he and his father arrived.
“I think we drove up on them,” he said.
Felter said when he arrived the screws had already been taking out of the third unit in preparation to dismantle it.
And that third unit had been barely been paid for.
Church treasurer Carolyn Schuchs said she only wrote the check for the new unit two days ago.
“I was just sick,” she said. “We’re already struggling to make ends meet.”
Felter said he isn’t sure if the third unit is still usable and is hoping the church’s insurance policy will cover the two ruined units.
Adams County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Ricky Stevens said at least four other local churches have been similarly victimized in the last three months.
Stevens said he would not be surprised if the same group of individuals is responsible for all the thefts.
Stevens also said approximately 100 feet of copper line that connected the units to the church was also stolen.
And while Stevens investigates the matter church members are only left wanting answers and feeling hurt.
“When people are in need they go to a church and the church can offer them help,” Felter said. “But to steal from a church, you can’t get any lower than that.”
Comments
Posted by BOBCAT1974 (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 12:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen!!! Maybe try setting some big rat traps out if you're lucky maybe you might break a finger or two!!!
Posted by acedog (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 5:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
you hardly see the sheriff dept. patroling certian parts of the county, especially at night .
Posted by oldschool (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 6:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well I would start by looking into where they purchased the units and see if there is any connections to that. Somebody knows something unless they live in the area and they saw the installations of the units. something is not right.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is that copper law/bill in effect yet? I understand it will take the copper buyers to work heavily and honestly with the authorities and start turning these folk in who are caught and convicted for doing this. It's too hot for folk to be sitting up with no AC. The church may need to cage their AC units. I know most thieves are quick and most measures will only slow them down, but our job should be to make it as hard for the theives as possible. Thieves are lazy. Anything too hard for them to grab they are not too interested in. They want to be able to steal quickly and go unnoticed.
Posted by andy (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
acedog what parts of the county i understand they are doing a good job maybe they are short and need more people to patrol
Posted by natchez500 (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
looks like the sheriff dept and police need some help in solving these crimes someone knows something come on give them a call and lets get these people off the street someone knows someone needs to tell has someone offered to sell you something lately that you know is not right make the call they cannot do it all themselves
Posted by dragonflyday (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GOOD LUCK SOLVING THIS ONE,NO FRINGER PRINTS,MEANS NO ONE GETTING CAUGHT.LOL
Posted by donna (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
you are right spankey you have to be low to steal from god they will get their day and it will not be with our courts it will be the big court in the sky love to be sitting in on that case i am new to the blog but had to do this today i hope they get caught and shot
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If I catch them I'll shoot them and bury them in the cemetary.
No one will ever know.
Posted by donna (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i read this article again and st peter will sure ask a few questions when this guy gets caught and dies i would not want to be in his shoes when he is asked about stealing from a church some people will do anything but this is terrible do you think this is the same people that stole the generators in town i would bet my money on it wish i could be on the jury
Posted by jack (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I AM IN CAPS BECAUSE I AM SO MAD THAT SOMEONE WOULD DO THIS TO A CHURCH I REMEMBER WHEN SOME PEOPLE STOLE ITEMS FROM ST MARYS IN NATCHEZ THE PUBLIC HELPED IN SOLVING THE THEFT SO WHERE YOU, IF YOU KNOW WHO IS STEALING,SELLING AND BUYING THESE STOLEN ITEMS YES IT IS TIME TO GET MAD AND HELP TURN THESE PEOPLE IN
Posted by Negotiator (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hang'um.
Posted by momof1 (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sick, Sick, Sick. Odds are that the criminals are on drugs and they sell the copper for drug money. I hope they catch them and throw them UNDER the jail.
God will begin their punishment LONG before they reach their final judgement for what they have done. The money they make from the stolen goods is cursed money and will never bring them happiness, peace or joy. It will only bring more pain, misery and suffering.
Posted by skippydammit (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is "low life" and then there are those like
these who steal
from a Church who are lower than whale (censored but
rhymes with "trap").
Unless they repent,
they will wish they had stolen the entire air conditioning unit
to use where they are going !
SAD !
Shout out to the people @ Pine Ridge Presbyterian.
Hang in there y'all !
:)
Posted by presby (anonymous) on September 11, 2008 at 11:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bad Ju Ju
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on September 12, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There's a special place in Hell for these people...ask Dante.
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