WANTED ALIVE: Copper Thieves

REWARD: $5,000 Bounty


The Fort Worth Independent School District is taking the unprecedented step of offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person or persons who stole copper and aluminum from twenty-two rooftop air conditioning units and two condensing units at Polytechnic High School.

The thefts occurred over the weekend of June 13-16 and overnight June 16-17. The air conditioning units affected by the theft provide conditioned air to at least half of Poly High School. The anticipated repair costs for material alone amount to at least $132,000 according to Louis Alonzo, District Executive Director of Maintenance. Labor and installation will add to that total.

TAKS review classes had been scheduled for the affected section of the building. Principal Gary Braudaway has made arrangements for the TAKS review sessions to be held in other classrooms not affected by the theft of equipment.

“It’s hard to comprehend why people would steal from schools, impacting the learning environment of the children of this community,” said Superintendent Melody Johnson. “We will aggressively pursue the prosecution of anyone connected with this theft. This is a major loss at a time when the Fort Worth ISD can least afford it.”

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Fort Worth Police Department.