Heartless Thieves Strike at the Heart of Rural Fire Service: $30,000 Worth of Vital Equipment Stolen from Coolongolook Brigade
- Vital firefighting gear, including hoses, breathing masks, and chainsaws, stolen from Coolongolook Rural Fire Service
- Theft leaves brigade with reduced capacity to respond to emergencies during peak bushfire season
- Volunteers ‘gutted’ by the loss, which comes after a traumatic fire season that claimed the life of a firefighter
- Police appeal for information as investigation into the break-in continues
Captain Andy Gilbert and his team of volunteers at the Coolongolook Rural Fire Service are reeling after a devastating theft that has left them without vital equipment to fight fires. The heartless thieves made off with more than $30,000 worth of gear, including hoses, breathing masks, radios, and chainsaws.
The discovery was made on Sunday, after volunteers returned to the station from assisting with a motor vehicle crash on the Pacific Highway. Captain Gilbert was met with a scene of utter chaos, with thieves having broken into the building and a truck parked outside.
“They had stolen a whole heap of stuff off our truck, firefighting gear like radios and hoses that we use on a regular basis,” Captain Gilbert said, still trying to come to terms with the loss. “We’re talking about essential equipment that could mean the difference between life and death in an emergency situation.”
The stolen equipment included an air compressor and a pressure washer, which had been donated to the station in August. But what’s even more astonishing is how the thieves managed to transport the large volume of stolen gear – until the station’s yellow recycling bin was also reported missing.
“We thought, ‘Hang on, our wheelie bin is missing’,” Captain Gilbert recalled. “It was later found in grassland a short distance from the station, where we suspect it was used to transport the stolen items into a parked car.”
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, which is still reeling from a traumatic fire season that claimed the life of a firefighter. “It was tough on all the crews, it was pretty brutal,” Captain Gilbert said. “This theft has just added to the stress and anxiety we’re already feeling.”
The Manning-Great Lakes Police District is investigating the break-in, which is believed to have taken place between December 23 and December 28. Members of the public with information about the robbery are being urged to come forward.
Captain Gilbert issued a stark warning to the thieves, saying their selfish act has put the Coolongolook community at greater risk. “Somebody’s selfish act has taken away some of our firefighting capabilities,” he said. “It’s not just about the equipment, it’s about the lives that could be lost because of this theft.”