A string of rooftop thefts left several small businesses in Syracuse, New York, with little or no air conditioning, as well as repair bills that could be devastating for the neighborhood storefronts.
Here’s what to know
During the first week of August, thieves removed parts from cooling systems and, in some cases, entire units from the roof of a shared-use building on Westcott Street, Syracuse.com reported.
Among the businesses affected were Boom Babies, Westcott Liquor, Syracuse Halal Gyro/Westcott Grocery, and Rise N Shine.
Jim Spinella, the building’s owner, told the outlet that repair estimates topped $55,000 and he was spending thousands more on added security, including lighting, signs, barbed wire fencing, and cameras…