PHOENIX (CBS5) -

A retired local firefighter claims he's come up with a product that could help ultimately save property and lives.

Fire Department Connections, or FDCs, are the latest targets for brass thieves.

"Unfortunately, we're seeing that people have to resort to these desperate means right here,"  Mike Cornelius said.

Cornelius said he's come up with a solution. It's called "speed swivel."

"My product is an adapter; It's a hose adapter so what it'll do is attaches to the vandalized FDC and replaces the swivel, it actually is the missing link."

These connections are vital in being able to effectively fight an active fire.

"If the FDCs have been vandalized and if the swivels are missing off the FDCs for sprinklers and standpipes in large buildings, they won't be able to get water into the building," Cornelius said.

The product is already getting picked up by local agencies.

"The department actually ordered about 40 of these. We have them all out on resource," said Captain Forest Smith of the Mesa Fire Department. "What we're going to do next is go through a process where we train our firefighters on how to use these devices. And then at that point, once we've done training, we're going to put them on our fire trucks and we plan on using them."

Cornelius said there's nothing more important than getting water onto the fire. He's confident his invention could prove to be a property or life saver.

Phoenix Fire said they are also in the process of trying out the "speed swivel."

The product is being marketed to fire departments and is not for use by individuals.

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