Copper thieves elude "coppers" in Pa., so heat is on

(CBS/AP) NEW CASTLE, Pa. - A copper caper is heating up in western Pennsylvania.

Police in New Castle are searching for copper thieves who have further turned up the heat on themselves by stealing tubing and wires from home air conditioning units during the region's heat wave.

Not cool.

Police have no idea if the thieves targeting the window air conditioners are the same ones who cut down hundreds of feet of copper wire from Penn Power poles in neighboring North Beaver Township.

But police tell the New Castle News if the thefts continue, someone is likely to get hurt - including the thieves, who could be electrocuted by messing with the power lines or innards of air conditioners.

Police suspect the thieves are selling the metal for scrap to buy drugs or other items.