In response to last week’s thefts of central heat and air conditioning units at a rural church and volunteer fire station, Bradley County Sheriff Tim Gobble today posted a reward for information.

He announced the sheriff’s office, in conjunction with Gibco Construction Company, is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information related to thefts from Berean Baptist Church on Bucks Pocket Road and Valley View Fire Station on Keith Valley Road.

The amount paid for information will be determined by its value leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the thefts.

Both locations are a short distance from Polk County where five churches have had

HVAC units stolen. The thieves are taking the copper inside to sell to scrap metal dealers.

After the two thefts last week Sheriff Gobble ordered proactive patrols of all rural churches. He noted the five Polk County thefts were a short distance from the Bradley County line.

Reports show a $4,000 loss for the unit stolen at Berean Baptist and $1,200 for the fire station’s unit.

Anyone who has information about either of the thefts in Bradley County is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 728-7336.