The Ellis County Press: Copper thieves hit Ferris church

Copper thieves hit Ferris church
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Editor on 03/06/2008 00:00:00


GLEN JACKSON
_The Ellis County Press_
FERRIS - Thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of copper and aluminum coils
encased in five air-conditioning units at a Ferris-area church Sunday, leaving
police looking for answers and investigators looking for suspects.
Patsy Cowey, one of the members of Covenant Family Fellowship on FM 664, said
suspects came in before this week's heavy rain and snowfall.
Copper and other precious metals are being stolen at alarming rates, local
police said.
The church, known for its role as a missionary-training program, has insurance
to help defray the costs of the damaged air-conditioning units, estimated at
more than $7,500.
So far, investigators with the Ferris Police Department have not made any
arrests.
Another incident in Ferris, on North Main Street, also resulted in materials
being stolen from Magness Properties. Police said the building was unoccupied at
the time of the theft.
Ferris Chief of Police Michael Braly said the thefts were reported to the Dallas
County Task Force. Authorities said the worsening economy is a factor in many of
the metal thefts.