An unstaffed east side firehouse became an inviting target for thieves, Alexis Wiley reports at Fox 2. It's at least the third empty fire facility looted since the department underwent a downsizing in July.
Ladder 19 Battalion Chief Robert ZygmontowiczDetroit firefighters are under siege. They're under-manned, under equipped, and now the guys at Ladder 19 say they've been violated by thieves in their own fire station. . . .
"They busted into some of the lockers, got a few radios," said Ladder 19 Battalion Chief Robert Zygmontowicz. . . .
The thieves didn't stop there. They stole tools off the fire truck, a computer, a television, microwave and food that firefighters paid for themselves.
"Our job is to protect the citizens' property and lives, and when we're missing equipment it makes our job a lot harder," said Zygmontowicz.
The station on Shoemaker Street is closed most of the time as part of budget cuts, Wiley explains.
Its firefighters are sent to work in other houses. They leave the lights on and try to make it look like there is someone there, but as expected, some nearby opportunists figured it out.
