Old appliances, damaged fencing, broken tools and equipment – junk to some, but cash to others. Metal items of all types can be recycled for cash, and all too often, thieves help themselves to anything metal they find.Metal theft is a growing problem in not only Bulloch County, but across the state and region, said Bulloch County Sheriff Lynn Anderson.Thieves have continuously targeted area churches and remote residences, ripping wires and copper tubing from air conditioner units and sometimes taking the air conditioners themselves, he said.One set of offenders were even spotted by a county employee stealing metal grates from sewers, he said. By the time the offenders took the grates to the recycling yard, deputies were on their trail and they were arrested.But in many cases, the thefts are unsolved.People have stolen livestock trailers, vehicles, farm equipment, tin, fencing and gates – just about anything metal that is not attached and can be picked up has been stolen, he said.“We patrol the area and check the churches on a regular basis, “Anderson said.