Nov 1, 2012 2 min read

The Graysville Fire Department was dealt a low blow this week by a thief or thieves who broke into the fire station and stole a 13,000-watt generator and a combination cutter/spreader tool used to extricate people who become trapped during a wreck.”They broke a window and then opened the door. It had to be somebody small to fit through the window,” said fire chief Mike Chapman, who noted the theft occurred sometime between 9 a.m. on Monday and 2 p.m. on Wednesday.Chapman said the fire company primarily functions on money raised through weekly bingo games. A combined $12,000 of state, county and township funds composes the balance of its operating monies, according to Chapman. He added that the $9,500 in state funding is a matching program where they have to exceed that amount in spending to receive it.The generator was valued at just under $3,500 and the combination tool at $6,250, Chapman said. A small pair of bolt cutters was also found to be missing but Chapman said they held little value.”The fire department is offering a $300 reward for information and an individual called to say they will add another $100 to that,” Chapman said. Added together, the $9,750 in property stolen from this volunteer community fire department will take a lot of bingo games to replace.Chapman was understandably angry. There have been a rash of burglaries throughout Greene County lately but when it comes to stealing from a volunteer fire company, Chapman said, “That’s getting downright low.”Anyone with information about the break-in is asked to contact Chapman at 724-428-4120 or 724-833-7501.