Copper thieves did $360,000 worth of damage at Moya Elementary School in west Phoenix.
Phoenix police report that three men destroyed 30 of the school’s air-conditioning units to steal their copper coils.
The price tag for fixing or replacing the units is $360,000, police Sgt. Tommy Thompson said.
A security guard at the K-5 grade school, 406 N. 41st Ave., just east of 43rd Avenue, stumbled across the burglars at about 1:45 a.m. Sunday and called police, who responded with air and K-9 units. The suspects, fleeing on foot, managed to get away, police said.
Students will return to the school in August.