DETROIT – Mike McCarthy, a heating and cooling expert, received a call from a Macomb County family saying they were having problems with their air conditioning.
"A neighbor has said they had seen kids underneath a blanket and near a unit," McCarthy said.
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"They're kind of crazy to do what they did because they could end up dead," he added.
McCarthy said someone had been stealing Freon from the unit.
Fatal trend shifting north
It's a trend that some believe started in the south, where temperatures are usually warm, and will slowly creep its way north as summer begins.
On YouTube, surveillance video taken in Texas show three young people appearing to steal Freon from the air conditioning unit before huffing the gas.
"It's gonna kill them. It's not gonna get them high. It's gonna kill them," said McCarthy.
The potentially fatal trend has made its way into Ohio, and experts believe the pattern will eventually make its way into Michigan as the weather warms up.
"It is a form of inhalant abuse, which is a very serious issue," said Louie Galasso with the Warren Police Department.
Galasso said police haven't seen the crime in Warren yet but are already sounding the alarm with parents.
"It's odorless. It's colorless, basically. It's a form of Russian Roulette that's silent," he said. "And a single huff is enough to actually kill you."
The Defenders have also learned other Metro Detroit communities have been targeted.
Cost of Freon rising
But another reason for concern is the cost of Freon.
Gary Marowske, the owner of FLAME, a heating a cooling company in Metro Detroit, said the trend could put a freeze on your wallet.
"Freon several years ago was sold for $5 to $6 a pound. Freon is now about $75 a pound," said Marowske.
He said that means it could cost homeowners up to $500 to replace the refrigerant.
But how do you know when you've been a victim?
"You won't know until you run the air conditioner. You'll turn it on and it doesn't produce coolant," said Marowske.
And if thieves damage the air conditioning unit, the price tag to replace it could be up to $7,000.
How to protect yourself
To protect yourself from Freon thieves, Marowske advises to buy a locking cap that needs a special key or wrench to open.
"The only way they can get that off is by having one of these keys," he said. "Now, it's protected. No one can steal the refrigerant."
Locking caps are sold by licensed heating and cooling companies for about $75.
Click here for more information, including how to tell if your children are huffing Freon.