Copper Wire Thieves Rip Off AC Units at Miami Children's Clinic

Thieves destroy AC units at pediatric clinic in Miami

Some workers at a Miami pediatric center were steaming mad when they arrived to find thieves had stolen copper wiring from their air conditioning units, leaving sick children sitting in the heat.

Elba Roche, office manager of the Healthy Children Clinic at 1495 Northwest 20th Street, said she arrived just after 7 a.m. to open the center when she noticed the mess the crooks had left.

After turning a surveillance camera, the thieves set about taking the copper wiring, destroying the AC units in the process. Roche said the crime could have happened as early as 4:30 p.m. of Friday, when workers left for the weekend.

The clinic opened Monday, with patients and their families forced to sit in the hot lobby with just an electric fan to keep them cool.

Roche said the clinic assists poorer children in the Allapattah community.

A second camera, positioned in front of the clinic, wasn't touched by the thieves and may have caught them taking the copper wire, Roche said. They were awaiting a camera technician to look at the video.

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