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Thieves Target Air Conditioning Units For Metals

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- Washington County authorities say thieves are targeting outdoor air conditioning units for their valuable metals.

Police say that since June there have been about two dozen instances of thieves stealing outdoor air conditioning compressor units or stripping them of metals to sell. The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown reports that the metals in the units, including copper and aluminum, can be sold at metal-recycling businesses for several hundred dollars.

Sgt. Chris Weaver of the Washington County Sheriff's Office says four churches were among the places hit by the thefts. A 30-year-old Hagerstown man, Matthew Robert Howard, was charged in two of the church thefts.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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