Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- One Midlands man knows all too well just how much copper thefts can effect a person's home.
Kirby Fogle has a rental property in Hollywood Hills in Columbia. He says that homes' A/C unit has been stolen twice this year, and that's not the only thing they've taken.
"I used to play in these streets," said Fogle. "I used to ride my bicycle up and down these streets here."
For whatever good memories Kirby Fogle use to have at the home he grew up in, they have now taken a step for the worst. As Fogle turns the corner into his backyard to find a second missing A/C unit in one year.
"We've taken what was left of it out. I'm getting ready to replace it and they destroyed the unit."
Fogle uses this home as a rental property now and continues to have to sink money to fix issues dealing with copper theft. But A/C units are only a start to his home improvement problems.
"When I came here Saturday, there was a river under the house and a river in the backyard. They didn't even bother to cut the water off they just cut the pipe out from under the house."
Criminals took all the copper water lines from under his house. With A/C, piping, and now flooding issues, Fogle is looking at a seventy five hundred repair bill.
"I would like for the community to stand up and help capture these guys whoever is doing it," said Fogle.
While memories of his past home have now been replaced with frustration and repair bills, Fogle hopes justice will soon be served.
"Any maybe that would deter people from doing this to people who work hard to have something and try to maintain a home in this neighborhood."
Anyone with knowledge of copper theft is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-Crime-SC. Tips that lead to arrests could result in a cash reward up to $1,000.