SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Numerous A/C Units Vandalized for Copper in Pace

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office investigators are asking for the public's help in identifying the suspects responsible for a recent rash of air conditioning unit thefts in the Pace area. Over the past few weeks, 13 air conditioning units have been vandalized at businesses on Woodbine Road . The units had been stripped of all of the copper, leaving the unit housings behind. The most recent thefts occurred during the nighttime hours of September 7 th into the early morning hours of September 8 th . On that night, six businesses in a strip mall had their outside air conditioning units vandalized. The businesses were Med South, Inc., Thompson Waldon Insurance, Fusion Wine and Spirits, Edible Arrangements, The Sandwich Mill, and Hard Drive Computers. The theft was discovered at 0430 hours on September 8 th when an employee at one of the businesses discovered that their unit was missing. All of the units had been disconnected from the electrical supply and the copper had been cut and removed. A surveillance video was retrieved from one of the businesses and reveals a vehicle that was present the night of the thefts. Four other air conditioning units were vandalized the same night at another business located on Woodbine Road . These four units were located at Williams Wood Plaza , in which the Village Groomer is located. The method was the same as described at the previous businesses. Investigators are asking for the public's help in identifying the owner of the vehicle. A photograph of the vehicle is attached to this press release.

A previous air conditioning theft was committed during the night of August 22 nd at Lollipops Consignment located on Woodbine Road . The method was the same as described at the previous businesses. On August 27 th , another theft was reported at the Chantilly Place Warehouses located on Highway 90 in Pace. During this incident, one air conditioning unit was vandalized and had all of its copper removed. A second unit had all of its lines cut, and it appeared that the suspects may have been interrupted during the theft.

Anyone with information concerning these thefts is asked to contact the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office at 981-2230 or Crime Stoppers at 437-STOP.

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

Media Relations Unit

(850) 981-2136 or shaines@srso.net