Copper thieves strike Bishop State's DIP location

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Copper thieves struck again this time ripping off Bishop State Community College's Dauphin Island Parkway location.

FOX10 News was there shortly after school leaders discovered the damage this morning.

The damage was so severe the college shut down some classes.

Bishop State Community College leaders survey what's left of several air conditioning units after thieves tore them apart.

Campus police discovered the damage Monday morning.

"Think it was done during the night hours and removed copper from ac units attached to building," said Lloyd Washington, Chief of Police.

Washington said 10 units in all were destroyed, and the damage is extensive.

The units were used to train students.

Washington said the crooks also got a hold of two cars. They vandalized one and stole off another.

Officials said how the crooks got on campus isn't known, and how they got off campus is even more puzzling. 

School spokesperson Herb Johnson said the gates were locked. 

Johnson also said the thieves struck between 10 p.m. on Friday and 6 a.m. Monday morning, when security is not around.

"Right now, (we) haven't determined how they got in. We believe they may have come in through an opening in the gate or climbed the gate,” Washington said.  “But, how they existed is undetermined at this time, especially with all the added weight of the copper."

School leaders said measures are underway to beef up security.

"President James Lowe is meeting with the chief of police, and measures are being taken," Johnson said.

Officials said this is not the first time the school has been the target of copper crooks.

"We had another incident over the holidays; one unit was vandalized. The person came back a second time, but a security officer caught the person, but he escaped. That is still on going,” Washington said.

They said dollar amount for the damage is unknown at this time.

There is a bill working its way through the Alabama legislature, Senate Bill 35 that would put more restrictions on how scrap metal is bought and tougher penalties for people caught stealing the metal.

Senator Ben Brooks is one of the sponsors.

"You can no longer rip wire out of someone’s house and sale it for $50 and just be charged with a misdemeanor," Brooks said. "Now, you rip wire out of someone's house and cause $2,000 damage to sheetrock and flooring, you'll be charged with a felony."

Brooks said the bill puts a burden on thieves as well as scrap metal dealers.

"Requires scrap metal dealers to write a check instead of paying cash," Brooks said.

Senate Bill 35 also makes it a felony to steal bronze grave markers, and manhole covers.

Brooks said people caught buying those items, will not be tolerated.

"We are not playing games, and we are not ashamed to put pressure on those," Brooks said.

Brooks said the bill was introduced last session.

He also said several local lawmakers are working on the bill including Mobile's Chief of Police Micheal T. Williams, Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran, Mayor Sam Jones and scrap metal dealers across the state.

As for Bishop State Community College, officials said the insurance adjuster was expected Monday to survey the damage as well.