Authorities in Gainesville are investigating the theft of at least $8,000 worth of copper from a downtown arts center.

Amanda McClure, executive director of the Quinlan Visual Arts Center, said she discovered the crime Tuesday morning.

Eleven of the building's 13 copper downspouts were gone. McClure said that some of the downspouts were at long as 25 feet.

Tags: Gainesville, copper theft, copper thieves, quinlan visual arts center