tamaquaarea.com

An older male juvenile is in custody, and another being questioned, after allegedly working together to steal over $13,000 worth of firefighting equipment from firefighters battling a suspicious house fire today at a vacant property in Tamaqua. Items taken included radios, radio charging banks, flashlights, hand tools, masks and more.

The incident occurred behind 225/227 Pine Street in Tamaqua after firefighters with Citizens Fire Company and South Ward Fire Company parked their fire trucks on Water Street to help battle the rear of a working house fire on the 200 block of Biddle Street. Since most of the firefighters were on scene of the fire on Biddle Street, no one was able to see the theft until the final moments. A firefighter said the thief went back and forth many times, placing multiple items inside the back of a black…..FULL STORY