Police search for AC unit thieves

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- Several South Florida business owners are warning others about burglars who stole their air-conditioning units.

It's becoming a popular crime across South Florida: businesses being targeted for their AC units.

A pair of thieves were caught on surveillance video last Thursday, at around 2:30 a.m., taking the AC unit from a business in the 300 block of North Federal Highway.

The crooks spent about an hour and a half trying to take out the AC unit a part to later sell as scrap medal.

Attorney Elaine Rodier said, "$6,000, and I'm not the only one. I think I was the second, and now there's four or five."

These robberies are leaving business owners with a big replacement cost. "If I have to replace it now, I want to say that, with all the work that I had to re-do, it would be anywhere from $8,000 to $10,000," said Giovanna Benza of Universal Tile Group. "There were two pretty big units. One of them was for the downstairs floor, and the other was for the upstairs."

Last month, an AC unit was robbed several blocks away. "Unfortunately, it's something that is a large deductible for my insurance, and they don't cover it, and it's gonna have to come out of my pocket," said Benza.

If you have any information on these AC unit robberies, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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