Police investigating break-ins at fire brigades in Noord-Holland

There have been multiple break-ins at fire brigades in Noord-Holland in the past week, including one in which life-saving equipment was stolen. The police are investigating burglaries at fire stations in Monnickendam, Krommenie, and Broek in Waterland.

At around 2:35 a.m. on Sunday, July 19, the police responded to a report of a burglary at the fire station on Eilandweg in Broek in Waterland. A window was smashed, but nothing had been taken.

Two days later, on July 21, a burglary was discovered at the fire station on Kervelstraat in Krommenie. The police assume the break-in happened overnight. Here, too, a window was smashed, and nothing was stolen.

On Thursday, July 23, the police received a report of a burglary at the fire station on De Werf in Monnickendam. Here, the thieves stole essential life-saving equipment.

The police are investigating and looking for witnesses or people with relevant camera footage.

According to the police, there have also been recent break-ins at fire stations in other parts of the country, some resulting in the theft of life-saving equipment.

Frank Kuntz, commander of the Zaanstreek-Waterland Fire Department, points out that these break-ins and thefts jeopardize the fire brigade’s emergency response. “In our profession, minutes can make the difference between life and death. That is what makes these break-ins so serious."

“These are resources we use to extricate victims after traffic accidents, or to gain access to buildings in emergency situations such as fires or other incidents. If these items are stolen, an entire unit is unavailable,” Kuntz said.