[TWIAR] Radio theft lads to "shots fired" prank (Illinois)

[Greg Williams]

Theft leads to prank
By Robert Kerns
Published: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 1:51 PM CST
http://www.pekintimes.com/articles/2007/12/18/news/news8.txt

Times staff writer

PEKIN - The Pekin Police Department is seeking information into the 
theft of two portable radios, owned by the Pekin Fire Department, that 
were used in a prank “shots fired” call. The prank was illegally 
dispatched over a police radio system.

The fire department reported to police in November that two portable 
radios, valued at $4,000 total, were stolen from a fire truck some time 
between Nov. 21 and 22.

Police had no clues in the case until the early morning hours of Dec. 3 
when dispatchers with the police department over heard a “shots fired” 
call transmitting over their radio system. “Officers on duty at the time 
did not make the radio transmission,” said Pekin Police Detective Chris 
Bitner.

According to Bitner, dispatchers described the mysterious voice as an 
unidentifiable male whispering “shots fired.” However, the voice did not 
give a location.

A “shots fired” call transmitted over a police radio normally alerts 
officers that a fellow officer is receiving gun fire and that back up is 
necessary.

After investigators learned of the incident, they were able to trace the 
transmission back to one of the stolen fire department radios. However, 
the male voice has not been identified.

Police described one of the radios as an 800 MHz Erickson radio and the 
other as a 800 MHz Kinwood radio.

The Pekin Police Department is asking for any information on the stolen 
property or information about the prank radio transmission. Anyone with 
information can contact investigators at 478-5300 or call Crime Stoppers 
at 347-9000.

-- 

Gregory S. Williams
gregwilliams(at)knology.net
k4hsm(at)knology.net

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