Air Conditioning Thefts on the Rise

In a summer where temperatures are reaching an all-time high, people are desperate for relief. Some people take this too far, and even resort to stealing. In St. Petersburg, FL, a dozen air conditioning units, each valued between $3500 and $5000 have been stolen from various properties and businesses in the city within a three month timespan. Police investigators believe that the thefts are being conducted by a group of criminals, who are also probably using a truck or van. There are no specific type of building or business which is being targeted, and air conditioning units are being taken from a variety of locations based on access to the systems. Vacant houses, small businesses and even a church have had units stolen. The St. Petersburg Police Department is still investigating and has appealed to the public for any information regarding the heists. Not only are these thefts inconvenient for those trying to beat the heat, but it can be dangerous as well. Without air conditioning, the very young, the elderly, pets, and those who are ill or infirm can all be susceptible to serious health issues as summer temperatures can make apartments and houses even hotter. Some people can’t just do without AC.

Large air conditioning systems with large external components are pretty ubiquitous in the South. They are easy to install and people are familiar with their maintenance. However, these days, large AC units are effectively technological dinosaurs. This string of thefts shows that they are easy to make off with too, if one has a mind to do so. There are better ways to do things. Many homes in the South don’t have basements or large attics, which can make central HVAC systems difficult and expensive to install. There is an alternative to these bulky air conditioning systems. AC-World offers a great line of ductless multizone air conditioning units which are easy to install and use