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Elderly Woman Dies From Heat After A/C Theft

79-year-old reported it missing two days before death

By Tim Karan, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 5, 2011 4:23 PM CDT

(Newser) – Somebody took a lot more than just an air conditioner from an elderly Texas woman. Two days after the 79-year-old reported her $2,500 unit stolen from the back of her home, she died of heat exhaustion, reports the Christian Post. It was the fourth time she had had her A/C unit stolen.

The timing of the latest theft was unfortunately during the hottest month in the history of the state. Air conditioner theft apparently is a booming business in her Dallas-area neighborhood. "You don't have to walk inside pawn shops to ask 'em if they have them," says a neighbor. "You drive by it and they're sitting right up front; central air conditioning units and window units."

An elderly Texas woman died of heat exhaustion two days after her air conditioner was stolen. (Shutterstock)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 8 comments

flameforjustice

Aug 6, 2011 5:52 PM CDT

When you have 4 stolen already somebody should have helped the elder with security for the air conditioning unit. Weather can bring on tragedies.

carson

Aug 5, 2011 10:11 PM CDT

i guess some pawn stores are honest...but i have bought my own tools back from them after they were stolen from a jobsite...the only reason i would ever enter a pawn shop is to look for my own property...they just profit from other peoples misery

JoeQ

Aug 5, 2011 4:51 PM CDT

Texas must not have a pawn shop fingerprinting law.

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Elderly Woman Dies From Heat After A/C Theft

79-year-old reported it missing two days before death

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

elderly • Texas • theft • heat wave • burglary • air conditioning

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