At about 4:30 a.m., deputies arrested Curtis Darnell, 36, and Howard Sanders, 26, after the church volunteers called police to the church at 7100 Fair Oaks Boulevard across from Carmichael Park, Dep. Jason Ramos said.
Darnell and Sanders were each charged with felony counts of vandalism, grand theft, and criminal conspiracy, Ramos said.
"It was the right thing to do," said Michael Talpas, one of the three volunteers and a church member for about six years. "It wouldn't repair the damage but we needed to stop them."
That damage included about four to five dozen screws and panels being removed and the Freon being drained, said Teaching Pastor Curt Pearson.
On Wednesday morning, Pearson said he first noticed damage to the air conditioning and heating units at around 7 a.m. and initially suspected homeless individuals who camp in the area. Church officials contacted their insurance company and Sheriff's deputies to file a report, which was delayed as law enforcement agencies are having to do more with less of a budget these days.
"They're overwhelmed and I understand that," Pearson said.
Pastor Matt Potratz again contacted Sheriff's deputies who suggested church officials work with them to nab the thieves. That's when Talpas, Pastor Jeff Livingston and longtime church member Gary Jensen offered to stay overnight in the church office to monitor the area.
"We decided to do a sting operation," Talpas said.
The three placed a wireless baby monitor to the roof of the church and took 45 minute shifts watching a television monitor in the office while the others slept.
"I've got two daughters- Cora, 3, and Talia, nine months, who is in the nursery program, where we're asking for space heaters because it will be cold as will the sanctuary," Talpas said. "That was my primary concern."
Police surrounded the alleged thieves, who told officers they were going through recycling bins for bottles and cans, Talpas said. They had left tools earlier and pornographic magazines, Pearson said. The video was given to the Sheriff's deputies for evidence.
"They were very brazen," Pearson said. "They didn't know we were on to them. There was no fear someone was going to get caught."
Carmichael Bible Church has about 120 members and has been in the area since about 1930, in different locations and having split from another church, Pearson said.
Damages are between $55,000 and $65,000, Pearson said. The church's insurance should cover most of the damage but there will be some financial loss for the deductible and costs to better enclose the AC/heat units, which Talpas said may include a steel cage.
On Wednesday night, a regularly scheduled worship music practice was held.
"Where is the copper going?" Pearson asks in disbelief.
At a recent Carmichael Chamber of Commerce luncheon, attendees mentioned vandalism of street lights as another way thieves take copper and go to recycling centers where they get paid.
"Something is driving the price of metal up," Pearson said.
Ramos gave credit to the men at the Carmichael Bible Church stakeout.
"Their place was being victimized and they came up with a plan of action," he said. "Kudos to them for taking the initiative and calling law enforcement right away instead of confronting the suspects."
The church's losses might have been greater if not for the three men on the stakeout, he said.
"They're very sacrificial," Pearson said. "Jeff's wife is due (to have a baby) any day now and they're all married so for them to stay is great and helps other churches and businesses that might have been vandalized."
"Everyone is grateful to the three guys and people are commenting as much on Facebook," he said. "We're also grateful to the Sheriff for a quick response."
On the third night, members of the Carmichael Bible Church in Carmichael, Calif., set up a baby monitor, hooked it up to a VCR and took turns watching the video, CW31-TV reported.
About six hours into the stakeout early Friday, the alleged thieves returned while Pastor Jeff Livingstone was watching. He saw the suspects return, then called the police.
According to CW31, the church is now without heat because thieves grabbed the copper from the heating and cooling system.
The damage will likely add up to more than $50,000.
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