Volunteer firefighters have been left incensed after a number of Country Fire Authority sheds across the region have been broken into recently, as the organisation moves to further protect brigade assets.
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Both Glendaruel/ Mt Beckworth Fire Brigade and Invermay Fire Brigade sheds have been broken into within the last week, with thousands of dollars worth of tools and equipment stolen.
It is not the first time that CFA sheds across the region have been broken into and while often it is equipment, tools and fuel that is usually the target, in recent years a CFA truck has also been taken during a burglary.
But no matter how small the theft, it always has a big impact on the brigade and the community it serves.
Invermay Fire Brigade captain Daryl Rowe said the brigade noticed it had been burgled when its equipment officer attended the station to return some repaired equipment early Monday morning.
First noticing open doors and misplaced equipment, he then came across a broken lock on the storeroom and a hole through the various layers of a back wall - which was used to gain entry into the room.
Two relatively new Stihl chainsaws - used by firefighters to clear roads and pathways - had been stolen.
In addition to the damage caused, it is estimated that to replace the equipment and to fix the damage, it will cost several thousand dollars.
No other rooms in the station appeared to have been touched.
With CFA brigades dotted across the region and poised to respond to incidents, Mr Rowe said it was frustrating that volunteer brigades - comprised of community members who are involved to give back to their communities - were the target of thieves.
"And unfortunately it is a common occurrence across the district," he said.
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When a break in occurs at a fire station, it means the affected brigade must go 'offline' for several hours and so they cannot respond to a fire or car accident.
Mr Rowe said this could cause response delays, as a brigade further away would be tasked to respond.
"The worst case scenario is that it could actually cost someone their life," he said. "The other brigade might be 10 or 15 minutes further away than us so there could be a delay."
Mr Rowe said the thefts were "a violation of the good in the community".
"The majority of people support brigades and they support their community, but it only takes one or two people out there to do this type of thing," he said.
These people really are throwing dirt in the face of their community members by doing what they've done.
- Invermay CFA captain Daryl Rowe
"These people really are throwing dirt in the face of their community members by doing what they've done."
To the thieves he said: "get a life".
"People work hard for what they've got and we work hard for what we've got at the station and try and maintain it.
"[The thefts] are at a cost to the community - it's not whether we have to pay to replace it or whether it's funded by the CFA, the CFA is public money so it's coming out of a bucket that's got a bottom on it."
The stolen equipment was deeply engraved, so Mr Rowe said if it is put in the marketplace it would have a ground off engraving.
Glendaurel/ Mt Beckworth Fire Brigade was also broken into last week, with a chainsaw, defibrillator and some expensive mechanical tools stolen.
Captain Jim Robinson said it was "a bloody shame" as for a small brigade with about 20 active members, it is a lot of work to fundraise to purchase the equipment it has.
"The disappointing thing is that we spent hours fundraising... with other organisations supporting us and donating money to us so we can buy this equipment and then some low life goes and steals it," he said.
The disappointing thing is that we spent hours fundraising... with other organisations supporting us and donating money to us so we can buy this equipment and then some low life goes and steals it.
- Captain of Glendaruel/ Mt Beckworth brigade Jim Robinson
"I can't understand how anyone could be so low to steal from an organisation that protects properties and protects lives. I just can't understand how anyone could be that low."
The defibrillator was always taken on the truck to the fireground, to be used in case of an emergency. But it is also there for the community to access if they need it.
Mr Robinson said the fact it had been stolen put the community at risk, as the defibrillator is a lifeline with the remoteness of the area meaning it takes about 20 minutes for an ambulance to arrive.
The ongoing issue has sparked other brigades to increase their own security measures.
Other brigades practise vigilance
The Snake Valley brigade's shed was broken into this time last year and so when the brigade heard that others had been targeted in recent weeks, they decided to take action.
"You feel violated, that people are in your space that shouldn't be there and you lose trust in people," Captain Anthony Baker said.
He said the brigade was being as proactive as possible to prevent becoming a victim of another break-in, including members actively monitoring the station and regularly driving by.
"The funds we've got invested into equipment - and a lot of it is brigade owned equipment - if we have to replace it means asking for more money from the community and insurance claims," he said.
"The best assets we have is all of the people in the township keeping an eye out for and reporting any suspicious activity."
Mr Baker said the people who break into CFA facilities had no respect for their communities.
"We don't do it for the love or the money - it is all about serving the community," he said.
CFA 'beefing up' security
All CFA brigades across the region have varying security measures in place, but the organisation is also working to increase this - especially for brigades which have been targeted multiple times.
District 15's Assistant Chief Fire Officer Brett Boatman said the issue of the many remote and rural fire stations across the district being burgled had been an ongoing problem.
He said the volunteer brigade sheds were "soft targets" and many of the brigades, such as Bungaree, had been repeatedly targeted.
"It's a big issue for us and a very difficult one to try to mitigate as they are tin sheds on the side of the road in remote locations."
He said while the CFA worked with the police to try to catch the offenders, it was currently working to "beef up" security in six of the most targeted locations.
These locations will have video cameras and loud sirens installed to deter offenders, while brigades are encouraged to record serial numbers so assets can be identified if located.
"It is frustrating because the stations are like an extension of their home. It is a community hub and it is upsetting when people target them," he said.
Mr Rowe urged people to be mindful of purchasing equipment if it looked suspicious or that engravings had been removed.
"The people that buy [stolen equipment] are just as bad," he said.
If you have any information, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report online.
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