(WSBT) It's a huge problem for local businesses and it seems to be getting worse.

Scrap metal thieves stole copper coils from the IBEW Training Center in South Bend, costing them big bucks and leaving their classrooms with no heat.

"You feel violated. You put your trust in your community, and you put your trust your police force and in your neighbors, and when something happens like this you realize just how vulnerable everyone really is," said Ron Michaelis, a coordinator with the center.

The thieves stole the coils that belong to the A/C condensing units. They are worth about $10,000 each. A total loss of $20,000, that's worth about $200 at a scrap yard.

"One of my concerns with the thefts of these air conditioning units like this is the tremendous amount of freon that they release into the atmosphere," Michaelis said.

Following a WSBT-South Bend Tribune investigation earlier this year, local scrap dealers say they are making changes to catch people scrapping stolen items.

But theft victims say they need to make it even harder for thieves to cash in.

"A photographic process where everyone comes in, what you're scrapping out, a picture of the individual with the photograph, with the ID," suggested Michaelis. "Then the investigating officers could go back and look at weeks of photos of what was coming in and see what matched up with legitimate scrap."

This isn't the only business targeted — police say they have many similar reports.

They urge businesses to step up security measures.

"You don't think about it when it's somebody else and it's an arms length away, but when it happens yourself you realize that what you've seen in the news, that these are going everywhere," Michaelis said.

If the thieves responsible are caught and convicted for this felony they could face up to 10 years behind bars.