The Wolcott Police Department is issuing a warning for plow drivers after noting a rash of plow-controller thefts.
Police say thieves in Wolcott are casting a wide net as they steal these controllers called “fish sticks”. They are used for plows – most commonly “Fisher” brand plows – and they’re being stolen left and right. Wolcott resident, Dave Cayer, has been plowing for 30 years but it wasn’t until this month that he’s gotten “hooked”.
“I got to use the plow twice and then this was stolen,” says Cayer holding up his “fish stick”.
His stick was taken right out of his Ford F250 truck and he’d only had his new Fisher plow for four months when the special controller went missing. The controllers are handheld devices that plug into wiring that comes out of the truck’s interior. The controllers allow drivers to easily control the movement of their plow with one hand.
“I was sitting right there at a window right inside and they stole it during the day. During the day… at my office,” says Cayer.
These fish sticks are a hot commodity and in some cases they cost more than $500 per set. Drivers say they’re the newest gadget for plows, replacing the old way to operate a plow, which was with the joysticks in the cabin.
“It’s been pretty rampant in this area,” another plow driver told Fox CT.
Apparently Dave Cayer isn’t alone. With so much snow so far, Connecticut’s been an ocean of targets.
“When I went to buy a new one, the owner of the place that sells them said his was just stolen,” says Cayer.
Wolcott Police Chief Edward Stephens posted a warning to plow drivers on the department’s Facebook page on Tuesday morning.
“We have had five since January 1, and up until this year, I’ve never heard of that,” says Stephens.
Chief Stephens says another was stolen Tuesday and while some sticks were stolen from trucks with the doors unlocked, other criminals broke into the trucks.
“Whenever you’re getting out of your truck, unplug it – take the fish stick right with you,” says Stephens.
Dave: “This plus the rest of the wiring…”
Berman: “Runs you?”
Dave: “A thousand dollars.”
So it’s easy to see why these “fish sticks” are quite the catch for crooks.
“Believe it or not, a lot of these guys that have companies and do plowing, to save a buck they’ll buy a used controller you know? So if someone came up to them and said hey, I got a couple used controllers… and it’s half the money I’m sure they’d be interested,” says one plow driver.
Fish sticks have been stolen from auto body repair shops, from dealerships and even individual trucks. Of course if you have any information you’re asked to contact the Wolcott Police Department.
You can reach the police department by dialing 203-879-1414