Dismay as couriered firefighter uniforms stolen
The Tokoroa Volunteer Fire Brigade is fuming after three of its uniforms were stolen.
It comes after a courier driver left them outside the home of a firefighter in Billah St last Saturday, allegedly without checking if anyone was home.
The uniforms, valued at about $3000 each, are believed to have been picked up by an opportunist thief after the courier left.
In December, a similar incident took place in the town when an imposter signed for and accepted a family’s Chrisco hamper delivered via New Zealand Post.
Fire Chief Dave Morris did not mince his words when contacted by
about the incident.
‘‘[The firefighter] was not home yet the courier driver just dropped them off,’’ Morris said.
‘‘He cannot attend any fire calls and it is now a process of waiting.
‘‘It could be next week before we are able to get some more gear for him.
‘‘It is frustrating.’’ Morris said anyone could have taken them.
‘‘They were just in brown cardboard boxes so it could have just been an opportunist. Someone must have followed the courier which I have heard through the grapevine is rife at the moment,’’ he said.
‘‘Within half an hour or so [of the firefighter not being at home and the delivery being made] someone decided that their need was greater than ours.’’
He said the brigade often had uniforms couriered from Auckland where they are drycleaned but it had never had any stolen.
‘‘We usually get deliveries dropped off at a local business in town because there is not always someone at our station but because they did not get sent during the week like they were supposed to, they arranged to drop it at one of my guy’s places,’’ he said.
‘‘This is an isolated incident I hope but it is just so annoying that we have now got to go and try to get three more sets of gear.’’
Morris said the matter had been reported to police.
New Zealand Couriers, which delivered the package, has been approached for comment but is yet to respond.