[Thermalseeker]

It's a wonder that these guys weren't zapped when they contacted the tower with the heavy equipment. On AM stations the tower itself is “hot” and it is the antenna. You can tell an AM tower from an FM tower by looking for insulators on the tower legs and/or guy wires. AM stations have them, FM doesn't. These were likely low power AM stations that were turned down for night time. If they'd have chosen a high powered AM station, like WSB in Atlanta or WLS in Chicago, which operate at 50kw day and night, these thugs would have been in for a very rude surprise....

[Flintlock]

Towers are unnecessary.
You need just a VERY LONG horizontal loop antenna and it will work just fine.
It’s also very easy to fix.