Thieves stole thousands of dollars' worth of copper wiring from a rooftop air-conditioning unit at a Pasadena business, leaving the system extensively damaged and requiring a full replacement, according to the Pasadena Police Department.

Officers responded at about 6:36 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, to investigate the reported theft at Sweet Red Peach, located at 319 S. Arroyo Parkway.

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Business owner Daniel Griffin told officers that his fiancée discovered something was wrong at about 10:30 a.m. after noticing excessive heat inside the business. She suspected the air-conditioning unit may have been targeted because of recent reports of similar thefts.

HVAC technicians were sent to inspect the unit later that day and found that it had been extensively damaged.

According to police, a technician determined that approximately half of the copper wiring had been removed from the unit and said the entire system would need to be replaced.

The technician estimated that about $4,000 worth of copper wiring was stolen. The damaged air-conditioning unit is valued at approximately $11,000.

Griffin believes the suspects may have entered the business between 12:30 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. and may have used a collapsible ladder to access the rooftop.

No suspect information was available. The business has surveillance cameras.

The investigation is ongoing.

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