The Newton County Sheriff's Office and the Covington Police Department have joined forces to fight against the increase in copper and air conditioning thefts.

Both agencies are answering and documenting a record number of calls for service in reference to the theft of air conditioning units (parts), copper and other metal fabrications. In response to this ongoing crime that stresses the resources of each agency and citizens they serve, Sheriff Ezell Brown and Covington Police Chief Stacey Cotton initiated the Heavy Metal Task Force. The task force will be conducting very intense patrols in the county and city in an attempt to deter, detect and apprehend the perpetrators of these crimes who steal and damage citizen's homes for copper and air conditioning parts.