Firefighters in Shropshire, UK are fighting back after “despicable” thieves put lives at risk by stealing lifesaving equipment from the County’s fire stations.
Shropshire is only the third fire and rescue service in the UK after Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire to call in SmartWater, the successful crime deterrent and “thief-catcher,” to protect equipment from further raids.
Every single piece of firefighting kit, from hoses to Holmatro cutting gear, in all 23 Shropshire fire stations is being forensically marked with SmartWater. Security fences, door entry systems, motion detectors and CCTV are also being installed to protect fire stations in a crime prevention exercise predicted to cost £150,000,” said Area Manager John Das Gupta.
The fire and rescue service has been forced into the move after heartless raiders smashed their way into fire stations in Albrighton and Newport to steal heavy rescue equipment used to cut casualties free in road crashes and worth more than £70,000.
Albrighton firefighters were unable to attend 999 calls needing the rescue equipment for a number of hours until it was replaced with fire and rescue cover provided by other fire stations which increased travel distances and attendance times.
“Our fire stations have not been targeted before. Despicable criminals have reached a new low by stealing equipment used to save lives. It is an attack on the community which we are here to protect and now we have to invest huge sums as a result,” said Mr Das Gupta.
He said lives had been put at risk by the thefts with firefighters from Albrighton and Newport unable to attend collisions.
Gary Higgins, Director of Security Services at SmartWater said: “Shropshire is the home of SmartWater and we are proud to be working with Shropshire Fire and Rescue to help protect our fire stations and lifesaving equipment.
“SmartWater maintains a 100 percent conviction rate when used as evidence in court and has aided the successful conviction of hundreds of criminals. As a result, it is considered to be a powerful deterrent, which will directly benefit Shropshire Fire and Rescue by making their assets significantly less attractive to thieves.”
SmartWater scientists created a unique, clear water-based forensic formula, for each Shropshire fire station. Invisible to the naked eye, the solution glows yellow under UV light and forensic scientists only need a speck to identify where an item was stolen from or to link criminals back to the scene of their crime.
Deterrent SmartWater signs have also been displayed, sending out a powerful warning to would-be thieves, he said.
Thieves first attacked the Albrighton station in June when neighbours raised the alarm after seeing three men acting suspiciously in the early hours. The equipment was taken from a fire appliance which had been forced open.
Less than two months later a second nighttime raid was carried out at Newport fire station and equipment stolen and a fire appliance damaged.
For details about SmartWater visit www.smartwater.com
For details about Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service visit www.shropshirefire.gov.uk
Image shows SmartWater’s Steve Mills, a former crime squad officer, shining an ultraviolet light to identify stolen equipment and entrap thieves watched by Area Manager John Das Gupta, of Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, at the scene of a “first ever” crime at Albrighton Fire Station. Picture supplied by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.
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