KAILUA, Hawaii -- Thieves ripped several copper rain gutters from the side of the Goodwill store in Kailua.

Contractors began repairing the damage from the side of the building more than a month ago.

David Ramos owns the sheet metal business making repairs and said stealing the copper could not be easy for the thieves.

"To pull out this, they had to anchor the brackets that was here, pull it out, and yet it's secure up there. So, they have to be shaking them like that and yanking them. It's not like they are going to pull it out, put it in the car and gone," Ramos said.

Ramos said the stolen copper was worth about $100 in recycling. However, it could cost up to $7,000 to replace.

Workers are replacing the copper with PVC pipes because it is less expensive. Ramos said the price of copper has doubled in recent years.