Copper thieves steal AC unit from AC business

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (WALA) - Surveillance tape led to the quick arrest of a brazen copper thief who stole an entire AC unit from a repair shop in Orange Beach.

Police arrested 45-year-old Randy Torrez for the crime Wednesday.

Caught on tape

Island Air owner Mickey Cornell showed FOX10 what happened late Monday night. Surveillance video shows a truck pulling up to his business and someone helping themselves to an entire AC unit and several compressors.

“They eased up behind the building here and they pull up to our pile and they snatch a unit out along with some other things and they drive off. All in about three minutes,” Cornell said.

Thanks to the surveillance video from four different cameras, police swiftly arrested Torrez. Police say the second person in the truck wasn’t aware that Torrez had no permission to take the items.

Due to the low value of the copper and scrap iron, less than $500, Torrez is only facing misdemeanor charges.

In this case, not only did the police catch the crook but they also got the AC unit back. It was still in the bed of the truck.

Repeat victim

Cornell told us his business has been victimized like this on a repeated basis.

“In the past, they’ve actually brought a trailer in and loaded up a whole trailer load of stuff. So we’ve been hit pretty hard, taking some measure to try and help prevent this,” Cornell said.

Cornell is hoping thieves will think twice now that the surveillance system has been successful.

“You may get away with some things once in a while but eventually you’re going to get caught. If you’re going to steal you need to be caught,” Cornell exclaimed.