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Thieves steal power lines in Dandan, Chalan Kiya
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Posted on Mar 20 2009
Copper wire thieves struck at two houses in Dandan and Chalan Kiya on the same day last week, stealing a combined 165 feet of power lines, according to the Department of Public Safety yesterday.
DPS spokesperson Lei Ogumoro said 100 feet of electric power drop line was stolen from Dandan, while 65 feet of live copper wire was taken in Chalan Kiya.
Ogumoro said the incidents happened Sunday morning. She did not say why details were released to the media only yesterday.
The DPS spokesperson said the Dandan case was reported by a caller to DPS at 10:03am.
Ogumoro said preliminary investigation showed that a technician went to the residence to install new air-conditioners when he noticed that there was no power connected to the house.
The technician then called the owner of the house. Police officers and Commonwealth Utilities Corp. personnel were also called to the scene.
With respect to the Chalan Kiya case, a caller reported the incident to DPS at 10:54am.
Ogumoro said preliminary investigation indicated that responding police officers noticed a drop line hanging about three feet above the ground from a power pole.
CUC personnel also responded to the unoccupied house. Police secured the premises of the house as well as the dangling drop line.
Ogumoro said the two cases are now being followed up.
“DPS investigators are requesting the assistance of community members to please call the DPS Criminal Investigation Division at 664-9050 or Crime Stoppers Program if they have information regarding these crimes or any other copper wire theft cases,” she added.
Copper wire thieves on Saipan were very active in 2006 and 2007.
Superior Court associate judge David A. Wiseman described the crime as “reckless and senseless criminal activities” in sentencing a convicted copper wire thief in January 2008.
Wiseman said substantial prison penalties await copper wire thieves in his court.
The judge noted that when someone dismantles copper wire from a building, residence or a public way or utility, the magnitude of the repercussions from such act is widespread.
