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  • PHOTO PROVIDED A welder at Ace's Fabrication and Design in Oklahoma City works on a clamshell cage similar to the equipment Ace's will donate to Heritage Baptist Church in Edmond to help prevent copper thefts from air conditioning units.

    clamshell cage 2.jpg

  • PHOTO PROVIDED Ace's Fabrication and Design in Oklahoma City will donate clamshell cages like this one to Heritage Baptist Church in Edmond to help prevent copper thefts from air conditioning units.

    clamshell cage 3.jpg

Discussion

January 26, 2012

Business aids Edmond copper theft victim

Mark Schlachtenhaufen The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — An Edmond church victimized by copper theft has received support from a metro company.

Earlier this month, The Edmond Sun reported that three air conditioning units were damaged when copper wire was stolen from Heritage Baptist Church, 1921 E. 15th Street.

Police said earlier this month when the church’s pastor arrived at the building he noticed that the air conditioning units were destroyed. He then realized that the copper was missing.

The air conditioning units were valued at about $9,000 and the copper wire taken was valued at $240, police said.

On Thursday, Heritage Baptist Pastor Stephen Rains said that in response to the incident, current security in place at the church is being enhanced. Additionally, a theft deterrent is being installed on the new air conditioning units, Rains said.

News coverage about the incident prompted a number of companies to call the church and place bids, Rains said. The church accepted the low bid on a product built by an Oklahoma City company, he said.

Nathan White, a master welder, owner of Ace’s Fabrication and Design, 3110-C N. Walker Avenue, has more than 20 years experience and specializes in custom metal fabrication of all kinds. Located in the Paseo District, White’s company designs and builds custom metal signs, tables, curtain rods, fencing and more.

One of White’s inventions is The Clamshell AC Cage, which is designed to deter the theft of copper wire from air conditioning units. It has expanded metal that prevents tool access, unbreakable security hinges that are welded, not bolted, and a sturdy steel frame.

Tina White, Ace’s Fabrication and Design office manager, said the company does a lot of business in Edmond with various products. The demand for The Clamshell AC Cage, which is custom made for each air conditioning unit, is rapidly growing, White said.

“We are really, really busy making them,” she said.

White said it’s a shame that a church was a victim of copper theft, and the company is building the steel cage for Heritage Baptist Church at cost. It is also extending the same offer to other churches, she said. Rains said he appreciates the offer made by Ace’s Fabrication and Design.

Copper thefts occur fairly frequently in Edmond, and in other locations across the country. It has become a big enough problem that the FBI has taken notice.

According to 2011 information from the FBI, the theft of copper is becoming a fast-growing problem in the U.S. Copper theft is a crime whether it is stolen from the federal government or elsewhere with serious penalties.

The FBI mentioned a criminal intelligence report from a few years ago. It found the demand for copper from developing nations such as China and India is creating a robust international copper trade. From 2001-08, the price of the metal increased by more than 500 percent.

At that time, copper thefts were responsible for shutting down railway systems and 911 emergency systems, according to the report.

Rains said he is thankful for the generous donors not associated with the church who have helped defray the cost of the deductible toward new air conditioning units.

For more information about The Clamshell AC Cage by Ace’s Fabrication and Design call 501-1344 or visit www.acesfabrication.com.



marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108

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