Local volunteers who use their spare time to save lives on the roads and rivers surrounding Dallas County now find themselves without the essential equipment they need to do their jobs following two break-ins.

Twice this week the Selma-Dallas County Rescue Squad

was the target of thieves, who stole numerous medical and rescue items from the trucks and bay area.

Lt. Jasper Bowie from the rescue squad said some of the items taken include flashlights, battery chargers, air tanks for divers, a television and videocassette recorder.

The first burglary attempt was discovered early Saturday morning. Bowie said he arrived at the rescue squad building around 7 a.m. to find it had been ransacked.

The building was put back in order, but the burglars wasted no time in returning to the scene of the crime.

The second break-in was discovered around 6:30 p.m. on Monday.

During this second round, Bowie says, the thieves seemed to have taken their time as they searched the place.

So far no leads have turned up in the burglary case, but Bowie says he has a good idea of who might have committed the crime.

The rescue squad is composed of volunteers, most of whom work in the fields of medicine and law enforcement.

They are usually called upon during major traffic accidents and incidents on the waterways.

The majority of the funding for the squad comes from the Dallas County Commission and donations from the public.

Bowie said the squad had been renovating the worn building, located on Hayden Street, but now plans have been changed.

The rescue squad is asking residents for donations to help them replace the stolen items. Contributions may be sent to the Rescue squad at P.O. Box 766 Selma, AL 36702.