Louisville, Ky. -- Copper thieves have hit another local church.  Now the church that got ripped off is reaching out to the thieves.  They are hoping to stop more stealing, and give an offering of help.

A note posted on their copper drain spouts reads:  “Friends: If you came back to steal more of our gutters, please don’t.  Our walls and basements will flood if you do more damage.  If you need financial help, please come by when we are here and we’ll talk about it.”

The offering from the church to potential thieves comes after 15 of their copper drain spouts went missing Sunday night.  This is the second time the church has dealt with copper theft.  But it’s the first time the church administration is hoping the criminals step inside.

“[We want to] talk to them about how a church can help them,” says Michele Hundley, executive director of Crescent Hill United Methodist Church.  “Do they need physical help, do they need drug rehabilitation?  Do they need housing? Do they need transportation? We are a great resource for those kinds of things.”

Copper is a hot commodity these days.  The price of the metal is rising.  It can go for about $12 a foot at a recycling plant, which is why police are starting there.

“We’ve tried to work really hard with recycling centers, so far as to who they do business with,” says Sgt. Eric Johnson, LMPD.  

But that’s about as easy as taking the drainpipes in the first place... not very easy at all.

“It’s a relatively easy crime to get away with. Even if you stop someone with a truck full of copper they just stole from somewhere, you can’t tell where they got it from unless you witnessed them taking it... it’s untraceable.”

As for tracing the latest copper thieves, this church hopes they do.  And they hope next time they catch them before the cops have to.

“I think it’s part of our mission to let people know we’re here to help,” says Hundley.  “Not to make them feel bad, but if they need help, that’s what we’re all about.”