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240 cable theft cases in Dubai last year

DUBAI — About 240 electric cable theft cases, involving losses amounting to Dh7,300,000, were reported in Dubai last year, said Lieutenant-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police, during a recent meeting organised by the General Department of Criminal Investigation and attended by officials of various contracting companies.

Lt.-Gen. Dhahi said a number of security guards at various construction sites had been killed during such robberies as owners of real estate companies did not take necessary precautionary measures.

Lt.-Gen. Dhahi said cable theft cases represented 60 per cent of total crimes reported last year.

He said contracting companies were leaving electric cables outside work sites for long stretches of time. Thieves therefore take the opportunity to steal, sell or smuggle the cables to neighbouring companies, he added.

He said companies which have the capacity of launching projects worth millions of dirhams should hire private security companies to guard electrical cables and they should also install early warning systems linked to operation rooms of the Dubai Police at their stores and construction sites.

Lt.-Gen. Dhahi urged contracting companies and shops selling electric cables to cooperate with the police to put an end to the crime.