Thieves continue stealing copper from churches

In the past few weeks, several air conditioning units at Blount County churches have been vandalized or stolen.

The units are targeted for their copper, which can sell for upward of $250 if processed properly.

Corinth Baptist Church, Hayden, in Blount Baptist Association had two units taken over Christmas.

“It’s a shame somebody would steal something like that from the church,” deacon Charles Newsome said.

Since 2004, copper prices have more than tripled despite the recession, according to the World Bank’s commodity price data index. The high value of copper and the relative lack of protection many individuals and churches provide for their air conditioning units make them a tempting target for thieves.

“We’re taking precautions now,” Newsome said. The church has purchased two motion-activated spotlights to place near its units to illuminate anyone moving around them.

While Blount County has seen a recent rash of thefts and vandalisms among rural churches, the problem is widespread throughout Alabama.

Mount Zion Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Baptist Association was vandalized twice in June and once in October, despite having motion-sensor security lighting and alarms, according to The Birmingham News.

Springhill Avenue Baptist Church, Mobile, in Mobile Baptist Association had seven units vandalized Dec. 15 and another eight vandalized Dec. 18, said Jerry Dees, chairman of building and grounds and chairman of deacons.

“We’ve never had anything bothered in our church’s entire history,” he said.

Springhill Avenue Baptist had a chain-link fence partway around some units, but now each remaining unit is outfitted with an alarm, Dees noted. It plans to secure the units either with steel cages or high fences topped with razor wire, he said.

Newsome wants steel cages for Corinth Baptist’s units as well.

Thomas Russell, a senior risk control representative for Westfield Insurance, has posted on his company’s website (www.westfieldinsurance.com) several tips for protecting an air conditioning unit, depending on one’s budget and the unit’s location:

• Install lighting to illuminate the unit.
• Hide the unit behind “hostile bushes” or a fence.
• Enclose the unit in a protective cage.
• Relocate the unit to a less accessible or visible area.
• Place an alarm on the unit.