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Thursday, September 25, 2008

Seattle Police Investigating Fire Station Burglaries

posted by on September 25 at 16:30 PM

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Seattle Police are investigating a series of burglaries at several North Seattle fire stations after hundreds of dollars were stolen from the stations over the last few months.

Earlier this summer, firefighters at four north end stations discovered that collections of cash—known as “clutch funds,” used to purchase meals and other sundries for firefighters staying at the stations—had disappeared.

Around $300 was taken from one fire station, while smaller collections of $50-100 and various food supplies were taken from others. In each case, there was no sign of a break-in.

Following the burglaries, Dean sent out several memos urging battalion chiefs to change the station door codes and deposit clutch funds into bank accounts. However, Seattle Fire Department spokeswoman Dana Vander Houwen says that even after door codes at the stations were changed, one of the previously robbed stations was hit again.

Vander Houwen says SFD is now stepping up security at fire stations.

RSS icon Comments

1

dumbasses. has anyone checked the pockets of said firefighters? No sign of forced entry? gee- wonder why?

Posted by CattyMaran | September 25, 2008 5:30 PM
2

Indeed. Have the firefighters turn out their pockets. The first one who is carrying any US currency -- that's your man! Book 'em.

Posted by elenchos | September 25, 2008 7:03 PM
3

How can they present all that evidence and not say "inside job"?

Posted by east coaster | September 25, 2008 7:27 PM
4

Inside job.

Posted by Greg | September 26, 2008 10:15 AM
5

Some facts:

Contractors -- electricians, plumbers, mechanics, computer geeks -- all have access to the door codes.

Firefighters are known to leave their stations in a hurry. They occasionally leave windows and doors open, especially during the hot summer days.

Posted by six shooter | September 26, 2008 11:56 AM
6

You should also know:

Firefighters and cops live and work in a different world than you. Maybe its fine to casually call someone a thief in your world. Maybe that accusation rolls off your tongue as easily as "my boss is an idiot" or "I'm going to call in sick tomorrow because I was up all night drinking."

Firefighters and cops, as a general rule, do not steal. Especially not from each other. The accusation is offensive. You wouldn't say it in person.

If a firefighter is stealing from other firefighters, he or she has broken a sacred trust that may seem foreign to you. He or she may be desperately in need or seriously in trouble.

This isn't robbing from the cookie jar or "borrowing" someone's half-and-half.

Posted by six shooter | September 26, 2008 12:05 PM
7

Six shooter, thanks for setting these jerks straight. I myself have the door code so I can repair systems when the ff's are out on calls or training. All of us are required to sign in and out every time we walk into the stations, and we watch out for the department if we see anyone else not following procedures. A facility worker confronted me last week for not signing in a second time after having to go back in for a forgotten item. I have heard stories of kids waiting in the bushes to slip through the overhead door just as it closes behind the rig which is leaving.
ALL FOUR OF YOU FIRST COMMENTERS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES. Firefighters conduct themselves with honor and respect--you should try it sometime!

Posted by Steve Scott | September 29, 2008 9:32 AM

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