Video shows thieves breaking into firefighters' vehicles
ATLANTA - The city of Atlanta has just released video of multiple break-ins at fire stations and police said the thieves come on to the property mostly in the overnight hours as the brave men and women who protect all of us try to rest up before the next call.
The video, obtained exclusively by FOX 5 News, shows the thieves not caring that the vehicles belonged to firefighters at all as they snatch items. The video is dark and from a distance, but shows how porous the parking lot at the facility is as two men quickly open up a fence. They will look for firefighters' property left in vehicles. It's been happening frequently, at a pace that's ahead of the city's pace to secure all of the lots.
More video from a different station, this time a single individual just after 2:30 in the morning strikes. Unfortunately, it's too easy when vehicles are left unlocked.
“He just was very quick about breaking in through the window and then climb in through the window, glove boxes, consoles, and then get back out here in a hurry,” said Atlanta Fire Captain Scott Powell.
Firefighters believe they should be secure in their workplace, but an official told FOX 5 News they think it's very good for everybody to adhere to the clean car campaign. A police officer FOX 5 News they have not had any substantial progress finding the night prowlers.
“It's a mixed bag. You're angry at one time. You want to get a hold of the guy for stealing your stuff and tearing up your property and all of that, and then also it is frustrating because here you are helping the community out and the person arrived on foot, so Clearly he's in the area, and he's breaking into cars and we are the ones he calls when he needs help," said Captain Powell.
All of the stations don't have cameras and fortified fencing. The union leader repeated his demand that they secure these facilities, and he knows it's not the problem of Chief Joe baker, but of City Hall.
Authorities said they are working to step up security but they acknowledge they have got a lot to do.