Cable thieves strike; traffic lights conk out
Traffic lights along S. Osmeña Road went out while several establishments complained of a choppy Internet connection or lost dial tones after thieves stole cable wires in barangay Mabolo, Cebu City, a traffic official said.
Joy Tumulak, Citom operations chief, said the theft of 100 meters of cable wires at the S. Osmeña and J. Luna intersection and another 200 meters at the S. Osmena and Gen. Maxilom Ave. crossing intersection was responsible for the faltering telco service.
The copper in the wires are usually sold per kilo to salvage shops.
“The price of the wire per meter was P1,320 about 15 years ago. It’s more expensive now. More or less the damage is P500,000. That doesn’t include the devices in the control box of the traffic lights,” Tumulak said.
The pilferage happened between August 12 and 20.
Traffic lights at the S. Osmena and J Luna intersection have been repaired but the one in S. Osmeña and Gen. Maxilom intersection is still not functioning.
Traffic enforcers are on duty from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., but no one is manning traffic late at night.
With this, Tumulak ordered Citom mobile groups to constantly patrol the area.
With fewer traffic lights, this also means more hazards for enforcers who have to stand in the middle of the intersection to man traffic, Tumulak said.
“Eventually, this will inconvenience the public. So we’re requesting the public to immediately report to the police suspicious people near intersections especially near the traffic lights to the nearest police station or barangay hall or call 166 our mobile patrol group,” Tumulak said.
He said perpetrators are visible since theives need ladders to reach the overhead wires.
Vice Mayor Edgard Labella said they have asked the police and barangay officials to strictly monitor junk shops in the area to find out if copper wire is being traded there.
He said those selling copper wire are considered fences or dealers of stolen goods since these are only used by the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) and cable networks.
Junk shops which buy pilfered materials are liable under the Anti-Fencing Law, Labella said.
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