Thieves take expensive equipment from Rock Hill's airport

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Keith Decker is a retired pilot who flies a small single-engine plane for a worthy cause.  He's part of a group that takes unwanted pets from animal shelters and flies them to people who can give them new homes.

When he showed up at the Rock Hill/York County airport on Wednesday, he realized he wasn't going anywhere.

"I came out to the airport to get ready to fly out the next morning and there was a big hole in the panel where the number one radio should've been," Decker said.

His Cessna 182 was missing the communications and navigation gear, worth $8,000.

"In my plane, that was number one. The most expensive piece they could've taken," he said.

He could still fly the plane, but it would have been a challenge under certain conditions.

Decker's plane wasn't the only one hit.  Two other small plans were also broken into.  Crooks took a total of $34,000 worth of equipment.

In fact, the suspects went after the exact same devices in all three planes.

All the planes that were targeted are parked outside, under open air structures known as shade ports, not in locked hangars.

There is a fence around the entire Rock Hill/York County airport.  Airport administrator Eric Ramsdell said it doesn't appear anyone climbed over it to get in.

"We did a perimeter check, and there's been no evidence of any kind of security breach," Ramsdell said.

However, there could be a much greater concern.  Police and airport officials said it's likely the crooks flew in on their own plane, in the middle of the night.

Like many smaller airports, Rock Hill's airport is not staffed overnight.   A plane can land at any time and the fuel pump is left on for that purpose.

Thieves could have swooped in, stolen valuables from several planes and then taken off in minutes, unseen.

Ramsdell told Channel 9 that the airport will take steps to make sure a crime like this doesn't happen again, including several security upgrades. However, he would not discuss the specifics of those upgrades.

A theft like this is extremely rare at the Rock Hill/York County airport.   About 140 planes are housed there year around.  Less than 20 of them are kept outside under shade ports.  Those pilots were all notified following this week's thefts.

"We asked them to come out and to check their airplanes," Ramsdell said.

Decker said he's been satisfied with the Rock Hill/York County airport, and has no plans to move his plane.  However, he will protect it better.

"I'm looking at something similar to 'the club,'” he said. "It locks down in front of the instrument panel. That should help."

Rock Hill police have just begun their investigation into the thefts.  They were at the airport Friday afternoon doing forensic work and talking to pilots.

WSOC