 In September, more than $150,000 of equipment was stolen and taken to Mexico, from where it was dispersed to Arkansas, California and elsewhere; the thieves would be arrested in Cancún in 1983, and some of the equipment was recovered.By December, the station's fundraising appeals warned, "Without your help, KZLN will not be able to continue to operate".In February 1983, the station managed to stay on the air thanks to a reprieve from the Central Power and Light Co., the local electric utility; at the time, channel 60 owed CPL more than $19,000, had just avoided a full staff walkout, and had its telephone service disconnected for nonpayment.