'It's difficult:' Phoenix firefighter linked to 8 of 18 thefts from firehouses this year

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- A Phoenix firefighter is under arrest, accused of stealing from his fellow firefighters.

Phoenix police say Ryan Donahue, 36, is responsible for setting at least two dumpster fires to lure crews out of their fire stations so he could let himself in and take cash.

In the last five to six weeks, firefighters at multiple stations noticed cash had gone missing from their wallets and from the kitty used to buy meals for crews.

"Obviously this person knew what he was looking for," said Pfohl. "As a firefighter, he knows everyone's going to leave the station -- so he was waiting till everyone has left in order to commit this crime."

This past week, investigators identified Donahue as the one they believe is responsible for those thefts.

On Friday morning, Feb. 9, detectives doing surveillance caught Donahue in the act. He was taken into custody near 19th Ave. and Bell Rd.

Pfohl says since the start of the year, crimes were committed at 18 fire stations around Phoenix. He says this suspect is only linked to eight of those, but adds the investigation is ongoing.

Police are recommending eight counts of theft, one count of burglary, one count of criminal damage and two counts of arson.

Donahue had been with the department for 11 years, most recently as a rover, working at various stations rather than just one.

Phoenix fire says he was off-duty at the time of the thefts.

"It's difficult for us," said Phoenix fire captain Larry Subervi. "We are a family. So when there's a theft, any type of theft, whether it's internal or external, it's difficult for us."

The Phoenix Fire Department says it has already tightened its security and plans to add cameras to the stations that don't already have them.