As a homeowner, you already know that surprise expenses can arise at almost any time, like having to replace your HVAC system. However, many people don’t have to replace their heating and air conditioning units because they have been stolen.
But that’s an experience that one Georgia homeowner said she had to endure twice in one month, when thieves hit her DeKalb County home twice in about a month, loading the units into an SUV and driving away with them, leaving her without any AC.
She shared her story with 11 Alive, including footage from her home’s security cameras that shows the brazen robberies in full view.
Woman Says a Thief Stole Two HVAC Units from Her Home
A Georgia homeowner has been left feeling frustrated after she says a thief came to her home twice over the past month, stealing her HVAC system from right next to her house. She shared video footage from her security cameras, which shows a man using a car jack to lift the cage covering the unit so that he could access the system before he loaded it into the back of his SUV.
“I always feel like someone’s watching me,” the homeowner confided in the news station. “It’s scary. I don’t feel comfortable in my home.”
But the back-to-back thefts are taking more than just an emotional toll, the homeowner says she’s out about $20,000 as well.
“I have the cameras, I have the locks,” she said. “I had the cage around it, and it’s kind of getting to the point of what else I can do.” Unfortunately, she doesn’t think this is the first time her home has been targeted. While she admits she just moved into the property, she says she hasn’t even been there long enough to make her first mortgage payment, but her neighbors have told her that they think that the previous owner struggled with the same issue.
There Has Been a Rise in HVAC Thefts
The Georgia woman isn’t exactly alone in her plight. According to WCC TV, a home security company, HVAC units have been targeted thanks to the expensive materials used inside the systems, like copper, brass, and bronze. That has caused thieves to target the units, stealing them to sell them to people who scrap them for the valuable metals inside.
To keep them safe, WCC TV recommends taking some of the steps the Georgia homeowner already has, including using a security system. Additionally, the website suggests adding fencing to the perimeter of your yard and adding locks wherever possible. Adding an alarm system that triggers the police is another option, as is making your unit more visible to the surrounding area, making thieves think twice about how likely they are to get caught while they’re cutting the HVAC unit loose.
Hopefully, this additional news coverage will help the Georgia woman find a solution to her problem. If not, she may want to consider some of the tips from WCC TV to keep her new unit safe, just in case the thieves come back for a third time.