Three arrested for stealing from church

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin police said they found three copper thieves hiding in the air vents and air conditioning units of a former church Saturday night.

Officers said the trio was trying to steal copper from the air conditioning units to sell it for profit.

Police said Arturo Flores-Mireles, Carlos Rodriguez-Rivera and Fabian Avila climbed on top of a vacant church at 500 East Saint Johns St. Saturday night with a ladder and cut a hole through the roof to get in.

A passer-by noticed the would-be criminals and called 911. Officers were able to quickly arrive and catch the men.

The men said they had been living in the building for about three days and had hidden in the air vents, not because cops arrived, but because they were hiding from another person with which they had a fight.

All three are charged with the state-jail felony of copper theft. If convicted, each man faces two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.