Copper thieves leave several Cobb businesses without power

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A Cobb County dentist said he came face-to-face with copper thieves who are costing him business.

Thieves stole copper wiring and pipes, leaving professional offices on Concord Road in Smyrna without water or power.

"I said you can't be serious. This isn't really happening," said Dr. Jim Pitts.

First, he heard about problems. Then he found thieves had struck his part of the building and then he spotted the thieves in the act.

"I walked about halfway and I saw them loading the copper into the taxi cab and I walked about halfway down there and I thought maybe this isn't a good idea," Pitts said.

He ran to his truck and blocked the cab in the driveway.

The cabbie agreed to take the copper to a storage area in the back, but it didn't stay there.

"I helped the guy unload it. The taxicab driver unloaded it right and an hour and a half, two hours, it was gone," Pitts said.

Pitts said his own office got hit last week.

He's open again but, several of his professional tenants are closed for now, without water or power for the anesthesia system.

It could be later this week before they reopen.

Police have not announced any arrests.

WSBTV