TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Copper Thieves Ransack Tampa Church's AC Units

ADVERTISEMENT

By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 7, 2007

TAMPA - Walking through the auditorium of Common Ground Christian Church in Seminole Heights on Tuesday, Pastor Danny Schaffner noticed one of the thermostats was blank.

Outside, he discovered why: Someone had dismantled two large air-conditioning units and ravaged them for the copper coils.

"They were all just in pieces," said Schaffner, who launched the church just nine weeks ago. "The pipes were just sawed off."

Copper is a hot commodity for thieves because it fetches a good price in the scrap-metal market, authorities say.

Tampa police are investigating the theft. Schaffner said it will cost the church far more than the thieves will reap.

The pastor estimated the thieves scavenged a total of $200 worth of copper from both units, which had been surrounded by fencing. Replacing each unit will cost about $25,000, he said.

"It's just a challenge for us to bounce back from," Schaffner said today. "This is going to put us down for a few weeks before we can get any heating or cooling system going. Fortunately, we're in a cool period right now."

Schaffner, 35, and his family of four sons moved from Indiana in January to start the church at 4207 N. Boulevard. They are using a church building shuttered since 2005.

He said he is excited about working in an urban area with people of varied backgrounds. Since the church got off the ground with the support of other churches and "church-planting organizations," about 200 people have begun to form a congregation, he said.

The burglary is bittersweet, he said.

"On one hand, it's heartbreaking. We clearly don't want to be taken advantage of," Schaffner said. "At the same time, we came to help the wounded. This is just affirmation that we are where we need to be. … If we can empower and transform this community, we've done what we came to do."

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT