Police need help to find copper thieves

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin Police Department’s Burglary Unit asks for the public’s help in identifying suspects who are stealing copper from rooftops of businesses.

Since late August thieves have been climbing on the rooftops of businesses in large strip centers. They have cut and stolen more than $10,000 in copper tubing from air conditioning systems.

Detectives believe that several suspects act as legitimate servicemen with various company logos on their shirts and/or vehicles.

The vehicles that have been seen at the burglary sites are:

• a white van
• a white Ford F250 pickup truck
• other pickup trucks

Police said the suspects park their vehicles next to the buildings at various times of day and use ladders to gain access to the rooftops.

APD asks business owners and their employees to secure their AC systems and any roof access to their business to prevent thefts from occurring.

If the owners and/or employees are not familiar with maintenance personnel, they are encouraged to make contact by asking for identification, and to write down license plate numbers of vehicles to determine if the person has a legitimate purpose for being at their business.

Witnesses should report any suspicious persons, vehicles and/or activity by calling 9-1-1.

Anyone with any information about these copper theft incidents is asked to call the burglary unit at 512-974-6941.