Columbus LPFM off air from theft

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A Columbus, OH area LPFM WCYC-LP 105.1 is off the air after an overnight burglary 3/21 in London, Ohio. Burglars apparently broke in and stole almost everything. It remains off-air, with studios located inside the local Armory Building. WCYC-LP Sports Director Rick Hartman told Media General’s WCMH-TV (NBC4): “There’s stuff all over the floor. I noticed immediately the (sound) board was missing. Our microphones are missing. Our headphones are gone. Our monitor equipment, everything basically we use to produce our radio sound, is gone…We don’t get a dime for this. We actually have our full-time, 40-hour-a-week jobs. We spend time away from our families to come in here. This is almost like another child for us.”


Three soundboards, three microphones, three headphones, speakers and other equipment were stolen. Hartman said all of the stolen items totals somewhere between $3,000 and $4,000.

PD Ron Otto and Hartman believe the burglar hit sometime between 9 p.m. Sunday 3/20 and 6 a.m. 3/21.

The burglars pried a door open and spilt a 2×4 piece of wood that was keeping it locked. You can also see damage outside the station door from when the burglar or burglars took the pins out of the hinges to remove the door altogether.

Otto and Hartman said it’s unclear when they’ll be back on the air and get back to covering London High School sports.

“We’re probably going to have to cancel our spring sports schedule,” says Otto. “We were going to start the week after next with baseball and softball games, and that’s going to last us until sometime in May.  Those are probably going to have to be canceled now.”

However, Hartman added, “With the spirit of London, I’m sure we’ll come back. I’m sure we’ll be back,” said Hartman.

The station is inside the armory (above), which is insured. However, Otto said it’s unclear how much of the equipment, if any, will be covered.