A VOLUNTEER-run fire station which had more than $5000 of equipment stolen on Friday night says it could take up to 12 months to recover, putting in doubt much needed support for the upcoming fire season.
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Thieves broke into the Napoleons-Enfield CFA headquarters overnight Friday-Saturday, stealing a chainsaw, GPS equipment and a laptop among other items.
They also broke into the nearby cricket club, damaging roller doors and stealing soft drink from the fridge.
It is understood to be the latest in a series of similar burglaries of CFA sheds in the last three months, with others including Warrenheip, Buninyong and Bungaree also hit in recent times.
Napoleons-Enfield CFA captain Robert Sobey said it was shattering for the hard-working volunteers to lose such important equipment.
“We’re still looking around to see what has been stolen,” CFA captain Sobey said.
“The chainsaw is probably worth $2000, plus there’s the laptop with a lot of the information about what we have at the unit is gone, plus the GPS equipment, they are about $400-$500 each.
“Sadly, the majority of it is community raised funds. It’s a voluntary operation. What can you say to these people, they won’t listen no matter what.”
Duty officer Gavin Hope said the Napoleons-Enfield brigade was forced to go offline while police conducted their investigations.
“There’s always a chance of a house fire in winter, or if there was an accident in Napoleons, we wouldn’t have been able to get to it,” he said.
“For the time it takes for the investigation, we are completely reliant on other brigades to cover us.
“It’s incredibly annoying, there’s just no point to it.”
Captain Sobey said he was keen to put out a warning to be on the look out for CFA engraved equipment.
“They can’t sell it, everything is engraved,” he said. “It’s not as though we are right out in the bush, there’s a pretty busy road going straight past.
“If anyone was around the area late on Friday night, please contact police and let us know if you saw anything.”
A police spokesperson said they were still investigating whether similar thefts in recent months were linked.
“It is believed an unknown offender or offenders broke into the local CFA and sports club, both located on Colac–Ballarat Road, at some stage during the evening or early morning,” the spokesperson said.
“The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. “
