Glade Spring man arrested after string of thefts of air conditioning parts

A Washington County, Virginia man has been arrested and charged after a rash of incidents in Smyth County where parts were stripped from outdoor air conditioning units and businesses and churches.

A Sheriff’s Office report said Matthew Allen Shupe, 25, of Glade Spring, confessed to the crimes while being charged with six counts of grand larceny and some of the stolen parts were recovered from inside of Shupe’s vehicle.

Investigators estimated total losses from the businesses affected at $55,000.