A Houston dentist says a massive air conditioning unit was stolen from the roof of his office. Here’s how it can be avoided

HOUSTON – A local dentist is sending a warning to other business owners after his commercial air conditioning unit was stolen from his office in the middle of the night.

Adding to the shock that thieves stole a massive air conditioning unit, Dr. Ryan Maneevese of A+ Dental Pediatric Specialists says he’s also baffled by how they were able to climb onto the approximately 25-foot-high roof to get there. access and bring it back. down.

“We’re just trying to serve the local community and do the best we can,” Maneevese said.

But it became even more difficult for him to do the job he loves so much when he realized a key part of his office was missing.

“It obviously affects our business. Our customers are waiting in the lobby without air conditioning,” he said. “We have two AC units. The one in the back, you can see that this one (the thermostat) works, the one in the front is the one that they stole so that we no longer have electricity.

“They took it apart and took all the parts, including the copper wiring,” he added.

Nicholas Lauder, an air conditioning technician with One Call Houston, says thieves often aim to sell, but he says there are ways to deter HVAC theft from homes and businesses.

“A welded metal cage that sits on top and is then bolted into the concrete slab. Another thing you could also do to protect that is refrigerant locks, and those are just locks that go on the valves,” Lauder said.

Lauder says making a custom metal cage could cost between $1,000 and $5,000 depending on the size, while refrigerant locks cost around $20. Much less than the more than $10,000 Maneevese says he has to shell out to replace the unit.

“For something like this to happen is really, really difficult for all of us,” Maneevese said.

Maneevese claims a total of four air conditioning units were stolen from his business and other businesses in the same shopping center. HPD says its metal theft division is investigating and is asking anyone with information to call them.