‘Stealing wires from downed poles only prolong recovery’
Department of Public Safety Commissioner James C. Deleon Guerrero urged the public yesterday to immediately report any incidents of thieves stealing copper wires from downed Commonwealth Utilities Corp. power poles.
“Stealing copper wires from downed power poles will do nothing more than prolong the CNMI’s recovery efforts,” Deleon Guerrero told Saipan Tribune.
The commissioner said these wires are specialized in nature and may be difficult to procure locally, which mean a longer waiting period for the entire community to receive power from CUC if supplies are limited.
“I urge anyone with information as to who’s responsible for these type of thefts to report it to the police immediately,” he said.
Lastly, Deleon Guerrero said, if there are recycling vendors out there who are supporting this type of behavior and people are aware of it, people should report them as well.
Saipan Tribune learned that a few days after Typhoon Soudelor pummeled Saipan, three men were seen cutting copper wires from downed CUC poles near Hardt Eye Clinic in Garapan.
When a concerned citizen confronted them about stealing copper wires, one of the three replied that they’re selling them to buy food because they’re hungry.
Now, this is one for some of us who normally would take it easy on corporate punishment to want to throw the book at the perpetrators. We’re down; electrical system is down, and we steal the copper wires? We are a small island. If our authorities cannot even trace the sellers and buyers, we do not deserve to buy uniforms for public personnel!
Buenas,
It is a crime of opportunity, what had become of our elders’ teaching to respect other’s property? This is a prime example of how drugs can manipulate society and it is sad to say that it is here to stay. No amount of money can put a stop for the demand of illicit drugs and we should learned from Uncle Sam.
Si Yu’us Ma’ase
Does anyone think that thieves care about the rest of the community??
Also the ones confronted cutting the wire says it all. They are going sell it so that means these recycling companies also do not care also and continue to support the criminals, they buy and ship it back to China.
If there was any cops that had the fortitude to get up and randomly check these yards they might actually find some of the stolen items and trace it back, but most likely these yards do not have record on the wire as they know it is stolen.
These yards should be held accountable and be prosecuted. The owners AND the employees.
BTW years ago there was a law that was passed that required all containers to e held for 45 days prior to being shipped off island so that they could be inspected in the cases of wire and other thefts.
We got our wire and other things back on Tinian by opening up and inspecting the containers. Under protest from the Tinian cop shop. (we got a court order)
There was also stolen items from Telesource and others recovered from those containers.
Also bring some dogs into these yards and search for drugs.