Dozens of fire hydrants stolen across LA County, deputies say

I guess the local gypos have taken all the copper wiring and roofing lead...

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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Authorities are investigating the theft of nearly 100 fire hydrants in Los Angeles County this year, sheriff's officials said Monday.

Some 85 hydrants have been stolen in unincorporated areas of the county, and another 14 in Lynwood, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The department's Century Station has partnered with the LASD Major Crimes Bureau to investigate the thefts.

"These incidents significantly threaten public safety and disrupt essential emergency services ... Our investigators are working diligently to identify and apprehend those responsible for the thefts," sheriff's officials said in a statement.

"Fire hydrants play a crucial role in ensuring effective fire response and public safety, and their removal can have serious consequences. Rest assured, our top priorities are the safety and well-being of our community. We are fully committed to swiftly resolving this matter and ensuring all fire hydrants are restored and functioning properly," the statement added.

Anyone with information regarding the thefts was urged to contact the Century station Detective Bureau at 323-568-4935. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

 

[JackoVerde]

Now we just need to know what they're worth in scrap to complete a cost-benefit analysis. Let me guess, someone borrowed a mobile powered socket tool from an auto shop to collect $500 a head just lying on every curb, lol. Probably no risk in "We Don't Prosecute: The City"

If I were them, I would prosecute for this one type of theft, stealing fire hydrants is dangerous as fuck,

also I’m guessing the fire hydrants stolen are in poor neighborhoods, which already have a nasty reputation for not changing their smoke detector batteries.

 

[OrionBalls]

Desperation and acknowledgement of the fact that crackheads generally aren't the most logical people

My favorite story has always been the man who sold his own toilet for crack. Cleaned it up real nice with a toothbrush and everything. Addicts can be quite industrious.

 

[Sniperwoof]

What would the thieves even do with them? Where would you put them or hide them after that?

Scrap metal. Junkies aren't this ambitious though, this is almost certainly a migrant crime gang thing

 

[JackoVerde]

Wypeepo don season Dey fire hydrants

 

[Battlecruiser3000ad]

Gypsies arrived in the promised land

 

[Agamemnon Busmalis]

Now we just need to know what they're worth in scrap to complete a cost-benefit analysis. Let me guess, someone borrowed a mobile powered socket tool from an auto shop to collect $500 a head just lying on every curb, lol. Probably no risk in "We Don't Prosecute: The City"

Apparently, if you wanted to, you can buy 1 ton of cast iron from India for about $500. If they're 250 pounds each, that's $60 a hydrant give or take. I assumed metric tons, not Imperial.

So almost $6k.

 

[Diana Moon Glampers]

Dozens is a great way to make sure that, if you want to have a building burn thoroughly and without recourse:

a) No one knows where you've targeted, since hydrants have disappeared all over the place,
and
b) they've run out of extra hydrants they can use to easily and quickly replace the missing ones.

If you just do it to one or two hydrants nearest your arson target, you run the risk of having someone figure it out and/or replace the hydrant nearly immediately.

 

[Honored guest]

I'd forgotten about this one, which post-European African basketcase were they selling this as cooking oil in again?

Someone will need to inform the TikTokkers (sorry, TikTokkas) about the delicious contents, so Prog cities can experience diversity-fueled blackouts after watching Moh'Besity and Duh'Bonica spice dey grease.

Kenya is the one I know about, but apparently its spread to other shitholes.

 

[Whoopsie Daisy]

Sold for scrap metal.

I fuckin' 'ate pikeys.

 

[ZazietheBeast]

I fully blame diversity and hood culture for this. Also, this would make one weird Payday Mission.

"Okay Clowns, today we are going to be taking every single Fire Hydrant in Los Angeles. Vlad needs it for some reason. Let's get that payday!"

 

[CarlosDanger]

Apparently, if you wanted to, you can buy 1 ton of cast iron from India for about $500. If they're 250 pounds each, that's $60 a hydrant give or take. I assumed metric tons, not Imperial.

So almost $6k.

That's a decent amount of KFC buckets.

 

[OrionBalls]

That's a decent amount of KFC buckets.

Even more, if you count in Church's.

 

[tehpope]

I'm very confused by all this. What fucking crackhead or druggie has the ability to steal fire hydrants. In mass even. And who would even steal a fire hydrant in the first place.

 

[NoReturn]

Saboteurs blaming crackheads for their crimes while they plan a new San Francisco fire, I just know it.

 

[Particle Bored]

How do they turn off the water before removing the hydrant?

 

[JohnnyG]

How do they turn off the water before removing the hydrant?

Hydrants are usually dry. The bolt on top is connected via a rod to a valve down below ground, which is why they aren't at risk of freezing or spraying water everywhere when a car hits them. You can remove the side covers and connect a hose while the water is off, the open the valve to pressurize them.

 

[KiwiFuzz2]

Hydrants are usually dry. The bolt on top is connected via a rod to a valve down below ground, which is why they aren't at risk of freezing or spraying water everywhere when a car hits them. You can remove the side covers and connect a hose while the water is off, the open the valve to pressurize them.

View attachment 6053927 View attachment 6053928

But they do spray water everywhere when a car hits them.

 

[Penis Drager 2.0]

Hydrants are usually dry. The bolt on top is connected via a rod to a valve down below ground, which is why they aren't at risk of freezing or spraying water everywhere when a car hits them. You can remove the side covers and connect a hose while the water is off, the open the valve to pressurize them.

View attachment 6053927 View attachment 6053928

I've personally seen a hydrant spray water everywhere after being struck by a car. Though I'm sure the obvious answer is probably that the crash fucked up the valve in some way.
Shit like this is always interesting nonetheless.

 

[JohnnyG]

But they do spray water everywhere when a car hits them.

I've personally seen a hydrant spray water everywhere after being struck by a car. Though I'm sure the obvious answer is probably that the crash fucked up the valve in some way.
Shit like this is always interesting nonetheless.

There are both wet- and dry-barrel hydrants. I don't know whether wet-barrel are actually designed to survive a truck shearing them off, it may just be to not freeze in winter. But I have seen ones that were run over and didn't spray, so maybe it depends.

 

[Loose Goose]

Come for the decaying empire story, stay for the fire hydrant lore. Only on the Farms!