Overview
- A string of copper-theft incidents has targeted rooftop air-conditioning units in Pasadena, with officials saying at least six businesses were hit and surveillance video showing suspects on roofs.
- The theft that hit Sweet Red Peach on July 14 removed about $4,000 in copper and left roughly $15,000 in damage, according to Pasadena police.
- City communications staff and police have publicly warned business owners, urged reporting of suspicious activity, and recommended measures such as tamper-resistant steel cages, locked ladders, and motion-activated cameras.
- Affected businesses are operating without normal AC, using portable units, swamp coolers and ice to stay open, and community members have donated equipment and started a GoFundMe to help cover losses.
- Copper from HVAC coils is valuable to scrap dealers, which drives the thefts, and cutting live lines can cause electrocution or fire risks that increase costs and safety hazards for small, independently owned firms.