Fire hydrant thefts on the rise in Los Angeles County

Thieves are stealing fire hydrants in Los Angeles County, a crime that some say could put these communities at risk in an emergency.

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, about 100 fire hydrants have been stolen this year.

Krystal Cousins ​​​​lives between two fire hydrants in the Florence-Firestone area. She says both were stolen Thursday, leaving residents upset.

“Why are you taking them? And then you find out they're only getting a hundred dollars out of them. So, okay, you're making money quickly, but you're putting so many people at risk,” he said. she declared.

“It’s sad because they don’t realize the damage they’re causing,” said Juan Vega, a resident.

The hydrants are owned by the Golden State Water Company. The company says 302 of them were stolen in South Los Angeles County, from Huntington Park to Gardena, between early 2023 and last month.

“The theft rate is alarming and getting worse. GSWC is taking serious steps to mitigate the problem by installing locks and working with local fire and law enforcement authorities. GSWC has also written letters to local junkyards to remind them that receiving stolen fire hydrants is a federal offense,” the company said in a statement.

Cousins ​​says only one hydrant was replaced Monday and she's waiting for the other to be replaced.

“Not having a fire hydrant in the street, it's quite a trial if something were to catch fire. Here, people have fireworks all night long. A single ember would wipe us all out,” he said. she added.

It could be that the thieves were stealing them for scrap metal, but the Sheriff's Department has not officially explained why they were stolen.

The Golden State Water Company says the direct financial impact of the thefts is more than $1.2 million. Crews replaced some of the stolen fire hydrants and added a lock to the base.

Los Angeles County firefighters say this poses a threat to public safety.

“The Los Angeles County Fire Department is aware and concerned about the recent theft of fire hydrants affecting several jurisdictions in Los Angeles County. The theft of fire hydrants poses a threat to public safety as it hinders the ability of the fire department to respond quickly to fires and protect lives and property Fire hydrants are essential to providing a reliable source of water for firefighting operations, and their absence can hamper firefighting operations. rescue efforts and delay fire suppression We urge all community members to remain vigilant and call 9-1-1 or notify local law enforcement of any information regarding the theft of hydrants. “fire,” the department said in a statement.

“Don't steal. Don't steal. Go do something else more productive, don't steal fire hydrants,” Cousins ​​said.

Anyone with information about the stolen fire hydrants is asked to contact the Sheriff's Department.