Copper thieves have stolen or destroyed more than 20 exterior AC units from an Orlando apartment complex over the past six weeks, according to police.

The thefts have occurred from Jan. 3 to Feb. 18 at the Timbersound Apartments on Raleigh Street.

Orlando police said 22 units were taken or dismantled for the copper inside, and another five units had copper tubing and power lines to them cut and removed.

Over the last year in Central Florida, several counties have passed ordinances making it tougher for thieves to sell stolen copper to metal recycling facilities.

Seminole, Orange, and Lake counties all have ordinances that do not allow sellers to receive cash from the recycler, but instead must receive a check. Also, the ordinances require recyclers to check photo identification, prove that the seller owns the property, photograph the property and maintain seller information.

Authorities said, however, that thieves are taking the stolen metal to counties that don't have ordinances, such as Brevard.

A bill is currently working its way through Tallahassee that would make it a felony for a person who removes or assists another to remove copper or other nonferrous metals from an electrical substation site.  Officials say the law would strengthen existing legislation that governs the sale of metals.

Officials estimate that metal thefts cost the country billions of dollars per year, and taxpayers often foot the repair bills when a public building is vandalized.

The scrap metal industry has created a website to help law enforcement fight scrap metal thefts.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.