Midland Police Urge Business Owners to Secure Air Conditioning Units Amid Rise in Copper Thefts

MIDLAND, Texas — In response to a worrying increase in the theft of copper from air conditioning units, the Midland Police Department is urging local business owners and property managers to take immediate steps to secure their external HVAC equipment.

Copper thefts have seen a sharp increase in the region, with criminals targeting commercial air conditioning systems under the cover of darkness. Thieves typically dismantle the units to extract the copper tubing and coils, which they then attempt to sell to scrap metal yards. While the thieves only make a small profit from the stolen metal, the victims are left facing extensive repair bills or the complete replacement of expensive cooling systems, which can cost thousands of dollars.

To combat this wave of property crime, Midland Police are recommending several security upgrades. Chief among these recommendations is the installation of heavy-duty metal security cages around outdoor HVAC units to prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, authorities advise businesses to improve exterior lighting, install prominent security cameras facing utility areas, and consider vibration or pressure-sensitive alarms that can alert security services if a unit is tampered with.