Volunteer firefighter suspended after video captures theft from dying man's home
A volunteer firefighter from the Associação Humanitária dos Bombeiros Voluntários de Agualva-Cacém has been suspended and barred from the barracks after security footage appeared to show him stealing a gold necklace from the bedroom of an elderly man in cardiac arrest. The incident occurred in Mira Sintra in the early hours of Sunday morning, and the case is now under investigation by the Public Security Police (PSP).
The emergency call came in at 4h05 on Sunday morning. A crew from the Agualva-Cacém volunteer corps was dispatched to assist an 84-year-old man suffering a cardiorespiratory arrest. The INEM emergency medical team, known as VMER, also responded and declared the death at the scene.
Several hours later, at 6h50, the man's daughter arrived at the home and reviewed footage from a surveillance camera installed in the bedroom. The video allegedly shows a firefighter taking a gold necklace from the bedside table and placing it in his pocket. The item has an estimated value of €3,000, roughly equivalent to four months of the national minimum wage.
The daughter immediately took the evidence to the barracks and presented it to Commander João Raminhos, who confirmed the sequence of events in an interview with Jornal de Notícias. Faced with the video evidence, the commander took swift disciplinary action.
The firefighter, who had been with the association for approximately two months, was suspended preventively, ordered to surrender his uniform, and prohibited from entering the barracks. The commander stated that he attempted to negotiate the return of the necklace, but the firefighter denied the accusation and did not hand over the item.
Association cites 'presumption of innocence' but reaffirms ethical standards
In an official statement released Friday, the AHBVAC said the video evidence is now under review by the competent authorities, who are responsible for the investigation. The association emphasized that it repudiates any behavior that might compromise the values of integrity, trust, and humanity required of all who work in emergency response.
The association also noted that the firefighter's previous service record included no incidents that would have raised concerns about his professional conduct. His former corps had described him as a worker of recognized merit. However, the leadership moved quickly to open a formal disciplinary process and triggered legal support procedures to ensure a rigorous investigation.
The disciplinary framework for volunteer firefighters in Portugal, established under the Regulamento Disciplinar dos Bombeiros Voluntários, allows for penalties ranging from written reprimand to suspension and dismissal. The association reiterated its solidarity with the victim's family and expressed regret for the distress caused during an already difficult time.
