Mower County and Fillmore County deputies are looking for an individual or individuals who have been stealing air conditioning units from rural churches.

According to Mower County Chief Deputy Mark May, the Sheriff’s Office was notified on May 3 that three air conditioning units had been stolen from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sargeant. The units were between 20 and 25 years old and it was unknown as to when they were taken.

The Mower County Sheriff’s Office received another report on Wednesday of two air conditioning units stolen from Evanger Lutheran Church, also in Sargeant. A church board member told the responding deputy that the units were valued at $10,000.

In both cases, breakers had been removed and the units appeared to have been cut with a reciprocating saw, according to May. Neither church knew the make and model or serial numbers of the units.

May said a Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office investigator sent information to the Mower County Sheriff’s Office about similar thefts from rural churches in their area.

There are no suspects at this time; however, local scrap yards have been notified to be on the lookout for anyone dealing air conditioning unit parts.