Ossining Radio Station Theft

Police are investigating the theft of a piece of valuable equipment from Ossining’s community radio station WDFH FM 90.3. A piece of test equipment was reported stolen from the station’s transmitter site in Mount Pleasant last week.

The station’s executive director discovered the theft on June 15 when he was at the radio station’s transmitter site. “The device is always plugged into the transmitter. Its removal could easily have knocked the transmitter off the air,” said WDFH Executive Director Marc Sophos.

Sophos says that tampering with radio station equipment is a federal crime. He says he plans on contact the FBI regarding the theft. “It’s a pretty specialized piece of equipment. Only someone who knows something about radio would even know its purpose and how it is used,” said Sophos.

The estimated value of the “wattmeter” is $500. It will be difficult for the station to come up with the cash to replace the test equipment. The station is already struggling to secure contributions to upgrade its FCC-mandated Emergency Alert System by fall.

Anyone with information about the theft should contact the Mount Pleasant Police Department at (914) 769-1941. If you would like to help out with the cost of replacing the stolen equipment, you can contribute online at WDFH.org. Or you can mail your contribution to: Hudson Valley Community Radio, 21 Brookside Lane, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522.