HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
Recent theft incidents targeting copper cables linked to the public lighting network in the city of Agadir have revealed the noticeable return of this type of gang activity, in a worrying indication that these thefts are turning into an organized criminal pattern that threatens the urban infrastructure.
During the recent days, several neighborhoods in the city have experienced frequent interruptions of public lighting, after the sabotage and theft of parts of copper wires connected to the lighting poles, which led to the complete submersion of streets and alleys in darkness, especially in densely populated areas.
Available data indicates that the thefts targeted sections of copper cables, often on a limited scale, but sufficient to disrupt an entire network, which reflects technical knowledge among those involved in the way the network operates and its weaknesses.
These operations included known neighborhoods such as Al Mohammadi, Al Hoda, and Ighil, where lighting stopped on a number of vital road axes.
This situation has caused widespread resentment among the population, who found themselves facing dark streets that increase the risks of traffic accidents and open the way for the growth of criminal behavior, in the absence of an essential element of urban safety.
In return, the municipal services rushed to intervene to repair the malfunctions and restart the lighting at some points, but the repetition of these operations poses a real challenge to maintenance efforts, and drains additional resources that were originally directed to develop the network and improve its quality.
These incidents reveal the emergence of a new activity of gangs specializing in copper theft, driven by its high value in the markets, which makes infrastructure equipment an easy and profitable target, which, according to observers, requires strengthening monitoring and protection mechanisms, and intensifying coordination between local and security authorities to stop this bleeding.
In the same context, investigations are continuing to identify the perpetrators by using the street surveillance camera system, amid growing demands to tighten penalties for this type of crime, given its direct repercussions on the safety of citizens and the quality of life within the city.
Between repeated repair interventions and the continuation of thefts, the battle to protect public networks remains open, pending radical solutions that put an end to an activity that threatens the stability of basic facilities.
