Authorities Investigate Series Of Attacks Against Trenton Firefighters
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- Authorities in Trenton are investigating a series of criminal acts against firefighters. The latest incident was a break-in at a firehouse on Monday.
Trenton's firefighters are often first to respond in an emergency, putting out fires, even evacuating residents from flooding. They serve and protect, but they say lately they're the ones who need protection from burglars hitting the Calhoun Street firehouse.
"For the third time probably the last month-and-a-half, we had the firehouse broken into," said Captain Mike Candelori.
Firefighters returning from a call on Monday morning noticed items missing from several lockers.
"It is men's personal items, and I can tell you a wallet was taken," said Candelori.
There is no surveillance video of the incident, but Candelori believes access was made through an unlocked side bathroom window with a boost up from a wall-mounted gas meter.
"We saw a foot print on that (the gas meter) and then a foot print in the snow," he said.
Candelori said at the scene of a shooting, thieves tried stealing a chainsaw off one of the responding fire trucks.
He also said that while pumping out a basement on Kirkbride Street, a firefighter reported having a chunk of concrete thrown in his direction.
"After they do everything that they do for us, risk their life for us and people do stuff like that, it makes no sense," said Trenton resident Alice Rodriguez.
Candelori believes police layoffs are to blame.
"There are increasingly more incidents that are happening around the city," he said.
A Trenton police spokesmen told Eyewitness News that 105 police officers were laid off September 16th, but he says it is too soon to tell if there has been a increase in crime here or elsewhere as a result.
Reported by Robin Rieger, CBS 3
