Published: May 12, 2008 08:59 pm            

Man charged with stealing air conditioner

PATRICKM@CULLMANTIMES.COM

A Cullman County Sheriff deputy’s keen observation and timing led to the arrest of a Walker County man Friday, shortly after he allegedly stole an air conditioner from a Cold Springs residence.

Bobby David Morris, 34, of Nauvoo was charged with theft of property in the second degree.

According to sheriff’s reports, a deputy was following up on other cases when he noticed Morris’s vehicle traveling down County Road 25 with a large air conditioning unit protruding from the rear.

“Debris was flying from it,” said Sheriff Tyler Roden. “He (the deputy) thought what he had seen was suspicious so he pulled it over.”

As the deputy was talking with Morris, Roden said dispatch stated over the radio to be on the lookout for a vehicle matching the description of Morris’ vehicle.

“The homeowner witnessed the vehicle pull out of his driveway with his central heating and air unit,” Roden said. “The person called it in to us and tried to chase the guy down.”

Roden said his investigators suspect Morris was planning to sell the air conditioner in Walker County.

“We’re following up with Walker County ... they are having a problem with some churches having their air conditioners stolen,” Roden said. “We’re currently trying to determine if Morris is involved in similar thefts of this nature in the area.”

Roden said air conditioner thefts in Cullman are relatively uncommon.

“It’s more of an occasional thing,” he said. “We’ve had very few.”

Morris was incarcerated at the Cullman County Detention Center and later released on $5,000 bond.

Theft of property in the second degree is a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

        

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