PLEASANTON, Calif. (KRON) — Ripped off and forced to delay critical work in the community, the Alameda County Fire Department was a victim of vandalism last Wednesday morning.
The crime happened at the height of the Bay Area’s most recent atmospheric river. As crews woke up at a Pleasanton hotel ready to get back to work but found someone had broken into their trucks and stolen equipment and bags.
“Yeah, we got to our trucks for some r-and-r and it looks like they broke the locks. They took chains saws and personal bags,” said Eric Truax with the Alameda County Fire Department.
This is crew 8 in action last week during the latest powerful storms that swept through the bay area. Truax said the unit is new and designed to tackle emergencies such as downed trees and other calamities.
“It was really demoralizing,” Truax said. “We are a new unit, and it was tough on the guys. They fixed this gear to work with them.”
Truax said the team was able to get some donations to bounce back, but the theft certainly hurt.