By WRAL:
Local fire departments say thieves are targeting the personal cars of first responders, shattering their car windows to break into their vehicles.
Break-ins were reported recently at Fire Station 5 on Chapel Hill Road in Durham and across various fire stations in Chapel Hill.
“It’s pretty aggravating.” said Chief Bryan Barker with the Durham Fire Department. “It puts us in a really bad spot, because what do we do with our vehicles?”
Car break-ins are a growing problem at hotels, fire stations and other places where cars are parked long-term.
“I think it has to do with some of the stuff we keep in our vehicles,” Baker said. “I think it has a lot to do with the fact we work 24-hour shifts, our vehicles are out there for all to see.”
“It’s a bigger picture than just a few vehicles getting broken into because it’s the trickle down effect that happens because of it,” Baker said. “When you look at morale, when you look at vehicles getting broken into, that doesn’t help at all.”
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