Copper thieves forced the closure of the Bank of America Tuesday morning in Manteca as the theft of 14-foot copper down spouts on the sides of the facility caused water from the roof to flow into the bank’s interior.

Customers of the Yosemite and Main Street bank were continually turned away at the back door by a security guard who announced it was closed for the day due to the flooding.

A repair crew was on the scene early Tuesday attempting to patch up the problems mostly to the east side of the facility adjacent to the shuttered Kelly Brothers Brewery.  They were calling for the use of a boom truck to better reach the problem areas.

The three inch diameter drains were reportedly wrestled out of their roof mountings until they broke away from the building. 

A large cardboard box that was serving as an encampment near the sidewalk on the east side of the building.  Workmen said a homeless man was seen running from the box when they began to inspect the building leaving his sleeping bag and a child’s car seat behind. 

To contact Glenn Kahl email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3539.