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Equipment stolen from choppers of Working on Fire in the Bay

supplied


UPDATE 11 am: The stolen equipment was discovered in nearby bushes and extra security will now be provided for all aircraft.

 

The Acting Safety and Security Head for the Metro, Warren Prins has expressed his disgust at the latest incident where equipment was stolen from out of the choppers belonging to Working on Fire.

The team had to park their chopper at Stella Londt on Friday night as it could not get back to base due to the strong winds.

The chopper was made available to the city for use by Gift of the Givers.

Prins says the Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Retief Odendall has now approved a R10 000 reward for anybody who can assist in finding the culprits.

This has caused an extra conundrum for pilots who will now have to make sure the choppers were not tampered with as it will affect their safety.

Prins says the pilots are busy arranging for spare parts.

Earlier this week Prins expressed his disappointment again when three Nelson Mandela Bay firefighters were robbed in Zwide on Wednesday night while attending to a fire.

Prins says the firefighting team was busy in Tonjeni Street just before 10 PM when they were approached by five men, two of whom were armed.

He said the area was in darkness due to loadshedding at the time.

Prins said the firefighters, which included two female team members, were ordered at gunpoint to lie face-down on the ground while their cell phones were taken as well as a station radio.

He said when the lead firefighter tried to resist, as he was concerned about the safety of the two female team members, two shots were fired before the suspects fled.

He called the robbery at gunpoint disturbing, considering the fact that firefighters were there to help.

The suspects remain at large.