INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis police are trying to determine if someone phoned in a fake 911 call to get firefighters out of a fire station so it could be burglarized.
Burglaries are not that unusual in the Haughville neighborhood on Indianapolis' west side, but the site of a break-in Tuesday morning was different.
Firefighters at Indianapolis Fire Station No. 1 were sent on a 911 call of a possible garage fire at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, 6News' Rick Hightower reported.
As crews left, the station's door came down and they thought the building was secure, but while firefighters were on their run, burglars broke in and took a couple of large-screen televisions and tried to take a third.
Indianapolis fire officials wouldn't talk to reporters about the incident, but released a statement that said Indianapolis police were called and an investigation is under way.
Police are not sure if the 911 call was a ruse to get firefighters out of the building.
"A fake 911 is horrible. It's a horrible thing to do," said Mayor Greg Ballard after a budget meeting Tuesday night.
Ballard said the issue of security at fire stations will be addressed.
"I think there's a protocol, and we'll have to see if the protocol was followed in this particular case," Ballard said. "I'm thinking they may have wanted to lock up the building depending on if somebody was in there."
Ballard wouldn't commit to putting tighter security in place at the city's firehouses, citing issues with resources.
Fire Chief Brian Sanford said in a statement that issues of safety are being addressed.
"The safety of our firefighters is as important while at the station as it is when responding on a run," he said. "To firefighters, these stations are like their own homes. We certainly hope this is an isolated incident and are taking proactive measures to continue to ensure the security of the fire stations."
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