DeKalb school police: Copper thefts are in the past
Copper thefts that plagued DeKalb County school buildings cost about $1 million in repairs and special redesigns to prevent further thefts, officials said Monday.
The thefts took place in 2014 at 25 schools. Thieves would typically take copper from air conditioning units, necessitating costly repairs. Chief Don Smith of the district’s police force told the DeKalb County Board of Education at its monthly meeting that updated designs of air conditioning units, which include surrounding several of them in wired cages or installing security cameras, became necessary as repair fees piled up.
“Last year, the district was under siege,” Smith said. “As a result, I put together a copper task force.”
Smith said five men were arrested in connection with the thefts, the last of which took place in August.
DeKalb police used helicopters with night vision and infrared imaging, among other methods, to catch would-be copper thieves.
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