Eight of 15 air conditioning units at a north Tulsa youth club have been ruined by thieves this week. They stripped them of their copper parts.
"I have no idea what that value is, but for what they're getting, they sure are harming an awful lot of people in the community," said Salvation Army Mar. Jim Taylor.
The Salvation Army runs the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club. Taylor said the warm weekend could be a problem.
"If it's going to be hotter than 80 degrees in a particular part of the building, we have to either cool it down or we're not able to utilize that portion of the building," Taylor said.
Highs this weekend are forecast in the low- to mid-80s.
The club serves around 150 people a day. It houses activities such as ballet classes and ACT prep courses.
Insurance will cover most of the cost, but mechanical companies have told Taylor it will take time to replace the industrial-sized units.
"They're going to have to build these units. They're then going to then have to install them, and they're talking four to six weeks, maybe as many as eight weeks," Taylor said. "And by eight weeks, you're at the end of June, and we know how hot it is here in June and July."
Tulsa Police are investigating the crime.
