Local fire departments say thieves are targeting the personal cars of first responders, shattering their car windows to break into their vehicles.
Break-ins were reported recently at Fire Station 5 on Chapel Hill Road in Durham and across various fire stations in Chapel Hill.
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"It’s pretty aggravating." said Division Chief Bryan Baker with the Durham Fire Department. "It puts us in a really bad spot, because what do we do with our vehicles?"
Car break-ins are a growing problem at hotels, fire stations and other places where cars are parked long-term.
"I think it has to do with some of the stuff we keep in our vehicles," Baker said. "I think it has a lot to do with the fact we work 24-hour shifts, our vehicles are out there for all to see."
Fire stations in Chapel Hill have been hit by the same crimes. Chief Celisa Lehew with the Chapel Hill Police Department said thieves got into 15 cars at three different stations in mid-January.
"They’re in and out really quickly; they’re looking for cash, they’re looking for valuables left in the car [and], unfortunately, weapons," Lehew said. "We’re seeing that across the town and across the region actually, long-term stays, whether it be hotels or fire stations early in the morning [and] on the weekends and such."
The break-ins ignited changes for the Durham Fire Department, which will add more security cameras to fire station parking lots and limit who can access radio traffic.
Durham firefighters said the break-ins aren't just expensive -- they could also deter recruits from joining the department.
"It’s a bigger picture than just a few vehicles getting broken into because it’s the trickle down effect that happens because of it," Baker said. "When you look at morale, when you look at vehicles getting broken into, that doesn’t help at all."
The break-ins are a reminder for everyone to keep car doors locked and valuable items out of sight.
"It's really unfortunate and it has an impact on everybody," Lehew said. "It’s their personal space and their personal area, and it’s expensive too."
Lehew said a team of investigators are working the breaking and enterings in Chapel Hill.
"We will aggressively enforce, this is not acceptable," she said.
Professional Firefighters of Durham posted a warning on Facebook, writing:
"Please be vigilant securing your vehicles at stations and keeping valuables out of them. There have been multiple break ins throughout Orange County Fire Departments and we have started seeing some in Durham the last couple of days."