GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan — A scrap yard dealer said it has hired a private investigator to delve into all the recent air conditioner thefts in the area.
Junk Iron and Metal, off Center Road in Flint, hired a private investigator two weeks ago, and is working with local police agencies on about five cases, said Don Sampson, managing partner.
“Our intention to coordinate with our other scrap yards to find out who is doing these commercial air cooler thefts,” said Sampson, who is paying for the investigator out of his pocket. “We are looking to put an end to this.”
Sampson said the investigator is working with Swartz Creek, Grand Blanc, Flint city and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department.
Scrappers are raiding the units to get into the valuable copper.
Local police agencies have said they have seen an influx of people raiding air conditioner units to businesses and churches. New Jerusalem Gospel Baptist Church on Carpenter Road had $50,000 worth of damage to two of its air conditioning units in a theft last month.
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The Village, a mix of businesses on Saginaw Street near Coldwater in Mt. Morris and Genesee townships, has been hit about five times in the last year, causing $200,000 in damage.
“With every business in town getting hit, you almost have to put a 24/7 armed guard (on the units),” Sampson said.
Two Flint police officers have been assigned to investigate illegal scrapping. The Flint City Council temporarily suspended the license of two scrap dealers for
The scrap yards have photos, driver’s license numbers and fingerprints of the offenders, and they are forwarding them over to police, Sampson said. The cases have not resulted in any arrests, but Sampson hopes there will be soon.
Police departments could not immediately be reached for comment.
“With every business in town getting hit, you almost have to put a 24/7 armed guard (on the units),” Sampson said.
Two Flint police officers have been assigned to investigate illegal scrapping. The Flint City Council temporarily suspended the license of two scrap dealers for
The scrap yards have photos, driver’s license numbers and fingerprints of the offenders, and they are forwarding them over to police, Sampson said. The cases have not resulted in any arrests, but Sampson hopes there will be soon.
Police departments could not immediately be reached for comment.
