Copper Thieves Cost Sutter County Library $100K—Right Before Triple-Digit Heat

The Sutter County Library was supposed to be a refuge. A place to escape the summer heat, crack open a book, find some air conditioning, and just breathe. But thieves had other plans—and they’ve left the community facing a crisis right as temperatures are about to soar.

Yuba City police say copper thieves struck twice in May, first cutting through a secured fence on May 19, then returning days later to cause even more damage. Five air conditioning units were targeted, some stripped of up to 90 percent of their components. The grand irony: they stole about $50 to $60 worth of copper scrap. The damage bill? Over $100,000.

But this isn’t just about a building that needs repairs. Sutter County General Services Director Ken Sra calls it more than a library—it’s a gathering center. The facility hosts reading programs, citizenship classes, English-language instruction, and serves as a critical cooling shelter for residents during dangerous heat events. It’s a lifeline for people experiencing homelessness, a sanctuary for families who can’t afford air conditioning, a place where a service dog owner like Desirae Billingsley can bring her husky to cool off when the heat becomes unbearable.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Triple-digit temperatures are arriving this week. County officials are warning they may have to shut the doors early or close entirely if indoor temperatures exceed 82 degrees—which means the people who need this space most could lose access right when they need it most. The repairs are complicated further by the library’s older HVAC system, which uses a refrigerant no longer manufactured. Parts must be retrofitted or replaced entirely. The county is working to complete repairs within the next few weeks, but that’s a long time when you’re counting down to heat wave season.

Yuba City police are asking for tips on who’s responsible. But the real cost—the one that matters most—isn’t measured in dollars. It’s measured in a community losing a critical refuge during one of the most dangerous times of year.