PORTLAND, Ore. -- Metal thieves did thousands of dollars worth of damage while stealing components from church air conditioners over the course of a couple of weeks, parishioners said.

Wednesday parishioners of Open Arms Seventh Day Adventist Church said metal thieves destroyed thousands of dollars worth of air conditioners to get hundreds of dollars worth of metal.

They steal the copper tubing and wiring from the air conditioners to sell, and they don't seem to care who they hurt or how much damage they cause to get it.

Hans Hess said he recently found three of his church's air conditioning units torn apart.

"I was pretty shocked," Hess said. "The estimated damage is about $9,000."

A little more than two weeks ago, someone came onto the church grounds twice to steal copper tubing and wiring from the three units, Hess said.

On Saturday around 6 a.m., a man was caught for a few seconds on surveillance cameras, wheeling a suitcase through the property.

Hess said a neighbor startled the thief as he was in the process of destroying a fourth air conditioner.

"Somebody stealing from God -- so to speak -- I mean, everything the church has is private donation and so it's pretty hard," Hess said.

Police immediately arrived Saturday, but the crook ran off and got away.

But Hess said the man left behind the old suitcase -- probably used to carry tools -- in the nearby woods.

He said he hopes someone recognizes it and turns the thief in.

"Inside I'm angry for them doing that, but they need to find God and get their life together," Hess said.

Hess said he thinks the crook is highly experienced at this type of crime.

The man even stole a short strand of wire from inside the wall that was highly electrified and managed to keep from being electrocuted.

Metal Thieves 'Stealing From God,' Priest Says