Roanoke Sheriff's Office work crews found the compressor, which is used at service stations to inflate car tires, on Routt Road Northwest near Black Oak Drive. It no longer had any money in it, according to police. Stations in Southwest and Southeast Roanoke had been victimized, but air compressor thefts have also occurred outside the city. A clerk at Lancer Mart in Stewartsville said his store's air compressor was stolen early Sunday. Franklin County Sheriff Quint Overton said two air compressors had been stolen in Boones Mill.

The air compressors weigh about 100 pounds and are valued at $1,100 each. They are usually welded to poles or attached to buildings. Service station attendants said they think the thieves are pulling the pumps off with pickup trucks.

Police are still investigating. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Criminal Investigations at 853-5959 or the anonymous Crime Line at 344-8500.

- Rachael Jackson