getting a fridge compressor to fail?

I had a tennant who didnt like his old frige or stove, I told him it works right, if it doesnt I will get a new one , well a week later he called said it was broke and it ruined 100 in food. So I went to look sure enough and strangely it was completely emply. Not likeing the smart ass he was or trusting him I turned it on its side, and sticking out was a shiney cut piece of copper tube , the unit old and copper blackened with age made it stupidly obvious. He got the boot, no frige , no security deposit, no cold food, later tennants told me the wife left him to.