PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Two small Phoenix businesses near 35th Avenue and Thomas Road are dealing with the fallout after thieves targeted their rooftops, stealing air conditioning units and copper. The thefts have left owners facing tens of thousands of dollars in damages.
At Dulcería Valentina’s, a colorful candy shop in the neighborhood, the damage became apparent Tuesday morning. Store manager Frank Martinez says they discovered that three rooftop air conditioning units were missing.
“It has a great impact. We’re looking at easily $20,000 to replace the units. It’s a big damage for a business this size,” Martinez said.
The loss isn’t just financial. The stolen units put the shop’s perishable candy inventory at risk, forcing staff to act quickly to protect products.
“We have perishable items. We have to keep them at a certain temperature. So we are in an urge to replace the units,” Martinez said.
Next door, Kenyon Plastering experienced a similar hit. Safety manager Martin Aguirre said thieves also took copper from their rooftop units, leaving behind even more costly damage.
“We’re looking around $50,000 on just the A/C units. And just this morning, they took another part and left the water running all night,” Aguirre said.
Both businesses have filed police reports. Aguirre notes the thefts are becoming more common and more brazen, particularly as nearby businesses remove deterrents like barbed wire due to city beautification efforts.
“Once that happened, I’ve seen the area early in the mornings, a lot of people moving around. It’s hard to pinpoint somebody doing something illegal,” Aguirre said.
For Martinez, the thefts are more than just a financial setback; they’re a challenge to small business owners trying to make an honest living.
“We try to make a living in an honest way, with dignity. We’re all struggling,” he said.
Experts warn copper thefts can be lucrative for thieves but carry significant costs for small businesses and the local economy.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2025 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.