Green spray paint solves Memphis City School air conditioner theft | Crime

A Memphis City Schools measure to curb the theft of air conditioning units from school campuses solved a mid-October theft from Doubletree Elementary School.

After repeatedly having air conditioning unit coils stolen for scrap metal, Memphis City Schools started marking their coils with fluorescent green spray paint.

On Oct.12, Doubletree Elementary School staff found four rooftop A/C units had been stripped of their coils and destroyed to the tune of $34,000 worth of damage.

However, Crittenden County Recyclying called police to report a batch of coils marked with green spray paint that had been brought into their business to be sold as scrap.

MCS officials were able to identify the coils.

The scrap yard had a copy of the driver's license of the person who sold them the coils.

Now, Dontell Vester is charged with one count of vandalism between $10,000 and $60,000 and one count of theft between $10,000 and $50,000.