Man Jailed for Stealing Copper From Air Conditioning Units at Churches

A 52-year-old man stealing copper pieces from church air conditioning units was arrested on Saturday, when an eyewitness called into police with a tip after catching the guy red handed.

On Saturday, April 18, at approximately 7:05 a.m., police were dispatched to the Deliverance Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, located in the 800 block of W. 17^th Street, for a theft in progress.  A witness observed a male subject remove the copper condenser from the air conditioning unit at this location and hide it in an alley near the church.  The witness was able to keep the male subject in sight until officers arrived to detain the subject.

The subject was identified as Donald Spratt.  It was learned during the investigation another copper condenser was removed from the air conditioning unit at the Iglesia De Cristo Church located in the 800 block of W 16^th Street.  The copper coils and tubing from this unit were located nearby.  Detective Adrian Castro responded to continue the investigation of the thefts. 

While conducting this investigation, a report of a burglary was received in the 500 block of W 17^th.  The owner of a vacant house in this block reported someone forced entry into the house.  An air conditioning unit was being stored inside the house, and the copper condenser was removed from the unit as well as other copper tubing.  There was evidence located during the investigation to link Spratt to this offense.

The field investigation also revealed Spratt to be a suspect in other thefts and burglaries in the area.  More charges will possibly be filed on Spratt pending the outcome of further follow-up investigation.

Spratt was transported to the Tom Green County Jail and charged with burglary of a building and two counts of theft of copper less than $20,000.