Video – Photo Gallery – Second Break-In in Less Than a Week Leaves Canadian Fire Fighters Museum Taking Inventory of Losses
The Canadian Fire Fighters Museum in Cobourg is assessing the full extent of its losses after a second break-in in less than a week.
At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Monday, June 29, 2026, security cameras captured at least one person inside the museum on Furnace Street, prompting a response from Cobourg Police.
Police located a suspect fleeing the scene and initiated a foot pursuit before making an arrest. Investigators also recovered a wagon loaded with copper coils nearby.
Museum Curator Will Lambert said it appears the suspect gained entry by removing the pins from a steel door on the west side of the building, allowing the entire door to be taken off its hinges.
The latest break-in comes just days after the museum was targeted on Thursday night.
“Tonight they had a little more time and were a little more successful. There are a lot of power tools that were taken,” said Lambert.
Lambert believes there may have been more than one person involved. A walkie-talkie, still turned on, was left behind at the scene, while cutting tools used to remove copper tubing were also abandoned.
During Thursday’s break-in, suspects left behind a large amount of coiled wire near the door, apparently fleeing before they could remove it.
Lambert believes the first break-in may have been a scouting mission.
“The first break-in may have been to case the place out and the second time they were more serious about it,” he said.
Among the items stolen during Monday’s break-in were numerous volunteer-owned power tools, including saws, drills, batteries and chargers.
“We’ll probably be looking for things over the next week and we’ll search the place and find that they’re not here,” Lambert said.
Operated entirely by volunteers, the Canadian Fire Fighters Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Canada’s firefighting history.
“So for somebody to keep breaking in and trying to rob us, it’s very disappointing,” Lambert said.
No charges have been laid in connection with Thursday’s break-in. However, Lambert noted both incidents involved the same area of the building and many of the same items, making the similarities difficult to ignore.
He is also asking the public to watch for a firefighter’s trumpet reported stolen during the first break-in. The antique instrument, typically made of brass, copper or silver, is considered distinctive.
Anyone who has information about the missing item is asked to contact Cobourg Police.
Following the second break-in, Lambert said discussions with the Town of Cobourg, which owns the building, will be a priority.
“We’re going to have a serious talk with the town about the security of this building because there needs to be a few upgrades done.”
Lambert explained that during the first break-in, suspects tore away metal screening from a window before climbing inside and opening a door from within. This time, they simply removed an entire steel door from its hinges.
“We need some upgrades,” he said.
Police have charged Gregory Hatherly, 58, of Port Hope, with Break and Enter, Mischief, Trespass by Night, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000, and two counts of Breach of Probation.
Hatherly was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
The museum continues to conduct an inventory to determine whether additional items are missing.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love