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Copper Thieves Hit Cerebral Palsy Facility
'Loss Of Therapy Troubling,' Official Says
POSTED: 12:52 pm MST March 27,
2008
UPDATED: 4:28 pm MST March 27,
2008
PHOENIX -- Special needs children and others were victims of copper thieves who hit the United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona facility on Monday, forcing it to close for the day.Maintenance worker Tom Smith noticed the copper theft after he realized there was no water pressure."I said, 'Well, they got us, too,'" Smith said.With no water for the restroom or even use of a fire sprinkler, the school had to close.
"I just didn't think anything like that would happen here," Smith said. "This is for handicapped kids. These people don't care who they take from."UCP provides services for children with and without special needs, including students with cerebral palsy, autism and Down syndrome. A day care is also located at the facility."Especially for the kids, when you miss a day of therapy it's a huge impact that they're losing out on," said Guy Collison, UCP president.All speech, occupational and physical therapy for the day was canceled.It cost the facility $6,660 to repair and replace the stolen pipes for the estimated $500 in metal that police think the thieves got away with."I made me very angry, and I kept thinking, 'These poor kids, they can't come to therapy, they can't play, they can't draw, they can't do anything today,'" Collison said.UCP is now taking a look at what security measures they can be put in place to prevent another theft.ELSEWHERE ON KPHO.COM: Arizona has become the first state to report a 2008 West Nile virus case, according to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and Arizona Department of Health Services. CLICK HERE for details. MORE SLIDESHOWS: From the bizarre to the tragic to late-breaking news, visit the KPHO.com slideshow section and click away! CLICK HERE for images.
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