{"id":61707,"date":"2021-04-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-07T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/61707\/theft-of-electric-cables-and-metals-all-around-lebanon"},"modified":"2021-04-07T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-04-07T00:00:00","slug":"theft-of-electric-cables-and-metals-all-around-lebanon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/en\/61707\/theft-of-electric-cables-and-metals-all-around-lebanon\/","title":{"rendered":"Theft Of Electric Cables And Metals All Around Lebanon"},"content":{"rendered":"As living conditions continue to deteriorate across the country, Lebanon has witnessed a sharp increase in crime rates. In 2020 alone, incidents of burglary increased by 20%, car theft by 46%, and murders by a whopping 103% in comparison to 2019.
A few months into 2021, and the situation continues to become more dire. As people become more desperate to make ends meet, they have taken to cable theft: stealing metal and copper electric wires and cables to sell as scrap metals. Earlier today, major parts of the electric grid were dismantled and stolen in the Southern area of Iqlim al Kharroub, with unknown individuals stealing cables, wiring, and circuit breakers. This resulted in a blackout in power supply.
Just yesterday, 30 meters of wiring that are used as part of a water pump (with an estimated worth of $3,000<\/b>) were stolen in the Kaftoun village of Koura. Days prior, 200 meters of electric cables were vandalized and stolen in Bsarma also in Koura.
Also on the menu appear to be manhole covers that are lifted and sold for profit. But most surprisingly? Metal doors in graveyards have started going missing in Riyak.