PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
At Dulcer\u00eda Valentina\u2019s<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has a great impact. We\u2019re looking at easily $20,000 to replace the units. It\u2019s a big damage for a business this size,\u201d Martinez said.<\/p>\n The loss isn\u2019t just financial. The stolen units put the shop\u2019s perishable candy inventory at risk, forcing staff to act quickly to protect products.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have perishable items. We have to keep them at a certain temperature. So we are in an urge to replace the units,\u201d Martinez said.<\/p>\n Next door, Kenyon Plastering<\/a> experienced a similar hit. Safety manager Martin Aguirre said thieves also took copper from their rooftop units, leaving behind even more costly damage.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re 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,\u201d Aguirre said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce that happened, I\u2019ve seen the area early in the mornings, a lot of people moving around. It\u2019s hard to pinpoint somebody doing something illegal,\u201d Aguirre said.<\/p>\n For Martinez, the thefts are more than just a financial setback; they\u2019re a challenge to small business owners trying to make an honest living.<\/p>\n \u201cWe try to make a living in an honest way, with dignity. We\u2019re all struggling,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Experts warn copper thefts can be lucrative for thieves<\/a> but carry significant costs for small businesses and the local economy.<\/p>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n