Birmingham police and leaders at Birmingham’s regional water authority are investigating another issue of internal theft at the utility, AL.com has learned.

Mac Underwood, general manager of Central Alabama Water, formerly known as the Birmingham Water Works, said the allegation of theft involves a former employee within the utility’s distribution department.

“We reported the issue to the Birmingham Police Department and will continue to work with authorities as the investigation moves forward,” he told AL.com in a statement Tuesday afternoon.

Water works board members declined to elaborate on the theft, citing the ongoing investigation. However, sources told AL.com that the theft involved heavy tools that were swiped and taken to a pawn shop. Some of that equipment was later recovered, sources said.

The report of the major theft comes just a month after the discovery of an earlier scheme where employees were accused of stealing copper from a utility warehouse and reselling it. Both incidents occurred in the distribution department.

“The CAW is committed to honesty, integrity and accountability. We expect all our employees, consultants and contractors to uphold these values. Anyone who violates these principles and the trust of our customers will be held accountable,” Underwood said in the statement.

After the theft ring was discovered in June, Underwood recommended that the board authorize an independent review of warehouse operations to improve security.

“Our utility has already taken steps to improve its inventory control,” Underwood said.

The current board recently authorized a forensic audit of the organization and have asked state auditors to assist.

“The information provided from the audit will help our executive team further improve inventory control going forward,” he said.