A faulty air conditioner required a call to police rather than a repair service on May 10 after an employee realized that copper piping from the unit had been removed.

Madison police said copper tubing was cut out of the air conditioning unit at the Prime Quarter Steak House at 3520 East Washington Avenue.

Police said an employee tried to turn on the air conditioning system and found it broken.

It will cost the restaurant about $8,000 to replace the unit, police said.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014.

Several Madison area teachers and counselors  were winners in their respective categories of this year’s Outstanding Educator Award.

100 Black Men of Madison, Inc.,  presented its first annual Outstanding Educator Awards honoring 11 teachers and counselors for their excellent contributions to the community. 

The winners were chosen from more than 50 nominations submitted by their peers and associates.

All nominees were celebrated at an awards breakfast on May 14. 

Category                              Winners

A 28-year-old Sun Prairie woman figured out a scam before wiring any funds to Africa, but not before sending some of her personal information, according to a Madison Police Department fraud investigation.

The woman told police she was looking for rental properties on Madison's north side when she saw a Craiglist listing for a home on Browning Road.

She called the number and the person on the line had a thick accent and said he was doing missionary work in Africa and was not able to deal with her in person. Instead the man said once the woman wired him a $500 deposit, he would send her the keys.

The woman said she got a gut feeling and found the home was listed by a local real estate agent who said the home was for sale and that he had received at least 15 similar calls.

The victim did send a rental application to Africa, which contained personal information, prior to figuring out she was being victimized.