CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are looking for metal thieves that hit three churches over the weekend.
Two of the churches Steele Creek AME Zion and True Way Holiness are located on South Tryon Street.
Church leaders at Steele Creek are frustrated but they know it could have been worse. This is the second time their property has been hit.
"They found out that when they turned the air conditioner on the air is not working," said pastor Dr. Elvin Sadler.
The church owns an adjacent property on South Tryon which is leased by a Hispanic church, that’s the second property that got hit. The thieves stole copper, but during the first robbery they took the air conditioner.
Sadler told us, "Unfortunately were living in a society where people do anything that they feel they can get away with."
CMPD’S Tom Geisler investigates metal theft for the department he says most churches are easy targets for a variety of reasons.
"Churches are mainly vacant during the weekdays and nighttime so it's an easy target," said Geisler.
"Churches are mainly vacant during the weekdays and nighttime so it's an easy target," said Geisler.
Pastor Sadler says his church hopes to become less of a target.
"At one time there was a fear of God and people would not touch the things of God."
"At one time there was a fear of God and people would not touch the things of God."
Police urge churches to put cages around their air conditioning units or alarms to protect their property.
