Fire brigade is fed up with theft of life-saving tools: 'Antisocial and unacceptable'

The continuing series of thefts of equipment from fire stations can lead to life-threatening situations, the fire brigade warns. Since the beginning of this year, items that the fire brigade may need after a call have been stolen from 35 barracks. This mainly concerns so-called spreaders and scissors.

This allows, among other things, to cut open cars and open barricaded doors. In recent days there have been three hits at barracks in North Holland. Buildings were broken into in Broek in Waterland, Krommenie and Monnickendam.

In Krommenie, life-saving aids disappeared, in the other burglaries there was only glass damage. 'Thieves have no idea' Commander Frank Kuntz of the Zaanstreek-Waterland fire brigade reacts furiously. "It is antisocial and unacceptable if you remove these types of materials from emergency services.

I think the thieves have no idea that they are playing with people's lives. According to Kuntz, it appears that the criminals are targeting the specialist equipment because the same items are often stolen. A hydraulic spreader or scissors quickly costs more than 10,000 euros.

Thieves use them for the same things as the fire brigade, Kuntz thinks. "To open a lock or a heavy door. 'Safe not an option' Because the fire brigade must be able to respond as quickly as possible after a call, the items are available for grabs in the fire trucks that are ready in the barracks.

Storing the devices in a safe is not an option, says Kuntz: "Then it takes too long. It is sometimes life and death that we need the items. Kuntz and his colleagues are thinking about "preventive options to make it as difficult as possible for criminals".

After a burglary, the fire brigade tries to have a unit operational again as quickly as possible. There is sufficient reserve material for the time being. "There is also contact with the supplier to ensure that we keep sufficient material.