NORMAL, Ill. (CBS) — Air conditioning units, popular targets of thieves during this hot summer, have been picked off on Normal campus of Illinois State University.

As WBBM Newsradio’s David Roe reports, 56 American Standard brand air conditioning units were stolen from the university, in what officials say amounts to a loss of $25,000.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s David Roe reports

Illinois State Police Chief Aaron Woodruff tells the Bloomington Pantagraph the missing units were among 75 used in the Cardinal Courts apartment complex, which was torn down this spring to make way for a new complex that is to open in the fall of next year.

The units are not usable anymore because they are so old. But an ISU officials says they will still be returned to the state’s Central management system, which circulates equipment among various state agencies.

It appears the units were stolen in stages, but the fact they were missing wasn’t noticed until they were all gone.

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