Churches cancel services after copper thefts

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9

Copper thieves are forcing some metro churches to cancel their services.

Thieves ripped the copper coil from the Westlawn Baptist Church's air condition system about two months ago. Since then, the northwest Oklahoma City church has been without cool air. As temperatures continue to rise, church leaders say they have to cancel evening programs.

"Even when we didn't want to cancel church, we decided that we'll have to have the evening services canceled for the week," Sandy Lynn Patton said.

The lack of air conditioning also is affecting the church's community programs including counseling and food services.

"My heart is entangled here very strongly," Patton said. "I don't like saying ‘I'm sorry I don't have bread' because it's all moldy because it was so hot in the church."

Someone donated several air conditioning units to the church, but they weren't compatible. The donations will be taken to a nearby church that also is a victim of copper theft.