How to Protect Yourself: Coral Springs Police Arrest Trio in Growing AC Copper Theft Trend
June 10, 2026 • By Ryan Yousefi
Three people were arrested after Coral Springs Police and Broward Sheriff's Office Aviation units allegedly caught them in the middle of stripping copper from air conditioning equipment, a crime that investigators say is becoming an increasingly common problem across the city.
According to a CSPD arrest report, officers responded on June 4 to a commercial property near 9327 West Sample Road after a manager reported suspicious activity on the property's live surveillance cameras. The manager told police two men were seen inside a fenced lot removing items and loading them into a trailer attached to a pickup truck.
When officers arrived, they reportedly found three suspects on the property: Stanley Hall, 65, of Pompano Beach, Lawrence Grant, 58, of Fort Lauderdale, and Ruth Gilles, 41, of Fort Lauderdale. Investigators said the two men were tampering with an air-conditioning unit while Gilles sat in the driver's seat of a nearby pickup truck.
Police said they discovered a damaged air-conditioning unit, tampered copper wiring, and burglary tools, including a screwdriver, wire cutters, and a pocketknife, near the suspects.
All three were arrested on charges including burglary of an unoccupied structure, criminal mischief, and petit theft.
Copper theft from air conditioning units has become increasingly attractive to criminals because the metal can be quickly sold to scrap yards. Unfortunately for property owners, the damage often far exceeds the value of the copper itself. A few hundred dollars worth of stolen copper can leave victims facing repair bills that climb into the thousands.
The Coral Springs case follows another high-profile incident just last month in which Coral Springs Police caught two suspects on the roof of a local church attempting to strip copper from air conditioning equipment.
That case raised concerns that organized scrap-metal crews may be targeting commercial properties throughout the city.
Experts say prevention is often the best defense.
Property owners looking to protect their air conditioning systems should consider installing heavy-duty steel security cages anchored to concrete pads around exterior AC units. Security specialists also recommend placing locks on electrical disconnect boxes and covering exposed copper refrigerant lines with metal protective ducts.
Additional measures include motion-activated lighting, security cameras with remote viewing capabilities, and refrigerant pressure alarms that can alert owners when lines are cut or damaged.
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