Copper thieves damage HVAC units in Indio

Two men were arrested today on suspicion of trying tosteal copper from high-volume air conditioning units at an Indio beveragedistribution business, a police spokesman said.

Gale Joaquin Sims, 32, of Indio, and Michael Earnest Pena, 34, ofCoachella, were arrested on suspicion of theft at Gate City Beverage at 82-309Market St., Indio police spokesman Ben Guitron said.

Damage to the air conditioning system was put at $18,000, he said.

Officers responding to roughly 12:40 a.m. alarm saw a red light flashingon the roof, then Sims climbing off the roof, he said, adding that Sims wascaught trying to scramble away.

Using a fire department ladder, officers got onto the roof of thebusiness and found Pena hiding in part of the roof structure containing the airconditioning equipment.

Pena was being held in lieu of $18,000 bail, and Sims in lieu of $25,000bail, according to jail records. Sims had two warrants for drug-relatedoffenses and possession of burglary tools, Guitron said.