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Detroit fire hydrants targeted by thieves across city
City officials are concerned that in an emergency, fire hydrants that have been stripped won't work when they are needed most.
DETROIT (FOX 2) - Brass is being stripped from fire hydrants across Detroit, leaving officials livid and the hydrants inoperable.
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City leaders are calling it unacceptable. On Wednesday, Detroit Fire Department members displayed a vandalized hydrant where thieves removed the brass stem inside.
The theft made the hydrant non-working, that puts many at risk, said Chuck Sims, executive fire commissioner, DFD.
"It’s not only a theft to the fire hydrant, but it’s a theft to our citizens, our residents, or firefighters and public safety in general," said Sims. "Totally unacceptable. Fire hydrants are an important part of our infrastructure and no matter how fast we get to a fire, if we don’t have an operable fire hydrant, it takes seconds and even minutes away from us - maybe saving lives."
"The problem is whoever is doing this is doing multiple hydrants in a row," said Sam Smalley, DWSD deputy director. "So when DFD shows up, they’re not going to have a hydrant within 600 or 900 feet which puts peoples' lives at risk."
"Our men and women are responding immediately," said DPD Cmdr. Dietrich Lever. "In fact, some of the hydrants that were vandalized yesterday have already been fixed.
"We are collaborating with fire department and talked to neighboring precincts as well as organized crime. We look forward to bringing this to a quick resolution."
FOX 2: "What type of penalties should they face?"
"I don’t know exactly but I can tell them is to go get a job," said resident Corey Fenderson. "Figure out some sense of income, don’t tear up your neighborhood.
Officials say they will also go to scrap yards to let owners know this material belongs to Detroit Fire and if anyone caught buying it will be in trouble with the law.
The Source: Information for this story is from Detroit police, Detroit fire and the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.