The Associated Press
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (AP) - Portable radios stolen from the Martinsburg Fire Department are being used to make illegal transmissions, police said.
Two handheld Motorola HT 1000 radios and a charger were reported stolen from the department on Wednesday, but investigators believe the radios were taken between Sept. 5 and Sept. 7.
Since then, several illegal transmissions have been made on Martinsburg police frequencies.
In one possible transmission, reporters for The Journal of Martinsburg heard either an impersonation or recording of a character on the Comedy Central show “Crank Yankers.”
According to the show’s Web site, characters’ voices can be downloaded to various electronic devices.
Police estimate the value of the stolen equipment at about $2,000.
The Martinsburg Police Department is considering an award for the arrest of any suspects.