Mérida, Yucatán — When the city opened the South Circuit in March, a proud accomplishment was marred with the almost immediate theft of just over 110 meters of copper cables from its 13 utility poles.
It was just the beginning.
So far this year, of more than 2,500 meters of copper and aluminum cable used for public lighting has been stolen, city officials said. The wiring had a value of just over half a million pesos.
Luis Jorge Montalvo Duarte, director of public services, reported that the thefts have already spread to the four cardinal points of Mérida, particularly where renovations have been completed. Parks at Tabenthá, Kalia and Cordemex, Avenida José Vasconcelos, Col. Alemán, Felipe Carrillo Puerto and at the overpass in front of the Gran Plaza mall — all allegedly hit by sneak thieves.
In addition, cable robberies have been reported in the Plan de Ayala neighborhood, the Fénix subdivision and at Xmatkuil.
In addition to these allegations of theft, acts of vandalism to machinery that supplies public lighting to housing developments were reported.
The official recalled that among those affected are the Los Héroes and Misné II subdivisions, the Emancipación de Vergel park, Altabrisa and the Tabenthá and Cordemex parks.
The official called on neighbors to say something if they see something by calling 999-924-4000 from Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm; Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Source: Diario de Yucatán
