NBC’s hot new reality series “Third Watch” got a king-sized dose of reality itself when thieves stole camera equipment worth millions of dollars, forcing production to be shut down.
Crew members arrived in Long Island City early yesterday to begin shooting an episode of the highly-touted drama – which debuts Sept. 23 – only to find three trucks containing the pricey equipment missing.
“There we were, an entire cast and crew ready to shoot, and there was no equipment to shoot with,” one member of the show told The Post.
No footage was lost and production was expected to resume today.
“Third Watch” is the new action-drama series about firefighters, cops and paramedics, from “E.R” executive producer John Wells. The show – the most expensive TV series ever with a budget of more than $2 million an episode – has pricey special effects, stunts and a large cast.
Cops said the trucks containing the show’s equipment were stolen by thieves who cut through several locks at the Public Service Truck Company on 49th St in Long Island City, where the vehicles were parked.
One of the trucks – with ladders and light stands inside – was found yesterday afternoon at 47th Ave and Jackson Ave.
But the two other vehicles containing state-of-the-art film and video cameras and electrical equipment, rented from CSC Inc. of Manhattan, were still missing.
“The thieves apparently knew what they were doing. They took the good stuff and dumped the rest,” one source said.
Officials at CSC and the trucking company refused to comment, but a source familiar with the production said the equipment is worth “several million dollars.”
“Third Watch” debuts next Thursday at 10 p.m. – the slot usually reserved for “E.R” – then moves to its regular time Sunday’s at 8 p.m. the following week.