Valley Police See Spike In Metal Theft

Police in Desert Hot Springs say they are dealing with a big problem — and they need help.

They say cases of metal theft are sky-rocketing — and now, air-conditioning units are a favorite target of thieves.

Police arrested two men who allegedly tore apart a unit outside a vacant Korean restaurant on Palm Drive — doing around $4,000 in damage.

The suspects apparently planned to sell the copper wiring and parts for money at a nearby recycling center where police reportedly caught them with the parts in the back of their van.

Police say it’s a crime that’s happening again and again — every single day.

“It is a big problem in our town. Right now, it’s the biggest problem in our town, frankly,” said Commander Dan Bressler of the Desert Hot Springs Police Department.

Bressler says thieves are targeting businesses, vacation homes and rental properties.

“The unique thing about this crime is it happens in broad daylight while the neighbors are out mowing their yard,” said Bressler. “They’ll walk up and dismantle the unit and take it away right in front of everybody and they’ll think it’s normal. That they’re supposed to be there. Maybe the resident has paid them to do work, or whatever.”

Police say recycling centers are part of the problem by not asking enough questions about where items are coming from.

And now, officers will be cracking down.

“We’re going to recycling places, stopping suspicious cars, we’re questioning anyone who’s been arrested for this kind of thing. We’re doing probation searches. Anything we can do to try to put a lid on this problem,” said Bressler.