Vacant houses are the latest target in a scam that's costing thousands of dollars, stripping the copper wire from air conditioners. The theft of metals, like copper, is a growing crime. For a few minutes work, the thieves can make good money, depending on the metal, but not nearly as much as it cost's the owner to repair or replace.

"They've destroyed a 3000 dollar air conditioning system that I installed in July,” said Jimmy Davis, owner of Bay Heating and Cooling, “and now it's scrap metal and that's what they intend to sell it for. It'll probably get them 50, 60 bucks at the scrap metal yard." Manufacturers normally don't mark copper tubing, so it's difficult to identify it if it is stolen. One way to discourage thieves is to mark your copper with bright colored spray paint, but the most important thing that people can do is be aware of what's happening in their neighborhoods. "If you see houses are vacant and you start seeing people pulling in and odd traffic, stuff like that, report it."