(PLO)- Although the police handled it fiercely, construction equipment and public infrastructure, especially in large projects, were continuously stolen, causing danger to many people.
Almost every month, manhole covers, highway guardrails, and other public equipment are stolen, causing great consequences and can even affect people’s lives. In addition to dealing with thieves, experts offer solutions to end the problem.
 |
Suspect Nguyen Van Thai stole a series of garbage covers on Thu Thiem 2 bridge and the construction unit had to replace it with wooden ones. Photo: NT |
There is a theft of public equipment every month
Most recently, on June 15, the contractor for metro line 1 Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien said that more than 13,000 rail clamps were stolen out of a total of more than 20,000 designed. This rail clamp is a device used to fix and connect rails and sleepers.
In May, the commander of the construction department of Thien An Company (in charge of the construction of Thu Thiem Bridge 2) said that in the morning of 4-5 and 5-5, dozens of garbage covers (made of cast iron) were recorded. of the sewer on Thu Thiem Bridge 2. These covers will be re-ordered and the company has temporarily replaced the lost wooden covers.
And yet, in April, the Vietnam Expressway Development Investment Corporation (VEC) said that 52 compartments of B40 fence nets on the Noi Bai – Lao Cai highway were stolen.
In March, the Tan Phu District Police (HCMC) said that some roads in the area had been stolen from the manholes. This situation not only causes a loss of urban beauty but also has the potential to cause traffic accidents and blockage of the drainage system.
Previously, on the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay highway, there was also a situation where thieves cut the power cable supplying the lighting system at the Dau Giay intersection, where there is a large curvature that poses a high risk of traffic insecurity, causing danger to vehicles participating in traffic.
Statistics from VEC show that from 2016 until now, in Thong Nhat district (Dong Nai) alone, there have been 30 cases of theft of public equipment serving the Ho Chi Minh City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay highway, causing a loss of about 400 million VND to the State. Highway assets that thieves often target are lighting cables, grounding wires, guardrail caps, pads, small cast iron plates, barbed wire posts … belonging to infrastructure, highway traffic safety system.
Buyers, owners of bottles and equipment purchasing equipment at construction sites, construction sites, etc. will have to face charges of consuming property obtained by other people who commit crimes.
“Need to report to the police immediately”
On June 19, discussing with the Law of Ho Chi Minh City, Colonel Tran Van Hieu, Head of the Criminal Police Department (PC02) of the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department, also gave recommendations to people about theft, buying and selling… equipment of public works and infrastructure.
According to PC02’s leader, the works and infrastructure serving the community have very small equipment, thought to be of low value, so some people pick up bottles, people and thieves get greedy, take it and consume it. This is a violation of the law.
 |
The garbage cover on the Ben Luc – Long Thanh highway and the guard box on the Cau Gie – Ninh Binh expressway were stolen. |
“This greatly affects the quality of the project, even endangering the lives of people, of which the manhole cover on Thu Thiem 2 bridge is an example” – Colonel Hieu said. According to Colonel Hieu, people participating in traffic in the area where the manhole cover was stolen may fall or collapse in bad weather, rain or wind, with unpredictable consequences.
Leaders of PC02 also recommended that collectors of bottles and scraps need to be vigilant and identify the origin of scraps and manhole covers because it is easy to recognize that it is the property of the State.
“Buyers and bottle owners need to be aware of this and proactively report it to the authorities for coordinated handling. On the contrary, if the police agency detects people buying equipment at construction sites, construction sites, etc., they will have to face charges of consuming property obtained by other people’s crimes”, – Mr. Hieu analyzed.
The leader of PC02 also said that most of these thefts are usually investigated and handled by the police department of the district police.
The Tan Phu District Police also advised people to raise their vigilance. If a violator is detected, he/she must immediately notify the police agency to promptly handle it strictly according to regulations.
Police arrest and prosecute
violations
• On June 12, the police of Cai Lay town, Tien Giang province prosecuted and detained Nguyen Duy Khanh (25 years old, living in Phu My hamlet, Phu Quy commune, Cai Lay town) to investigate the crime of property theft. Khanh was identified as the thief who stole many lids of the plant protection drug waste tank in Cai Lay town, causing frustration among the people.
• On May 13, Nguyen Van Thai (52 years old, suspect of stealing dozens of garbage covers on Thu Thiem bridge 2) was arrested by PC02 in coordination with related units for investigation.
Increase propaganda
VEC representative said that the situation of removing guardrails and B40 mesh fences on expressways managed by VEC in general has existed for many years. This not only causes damage to national property, disrupts security and order, but also poses a potential risk of traffic insecurity for people and vehicles participating in traffic on the highway.
“In addition to strengthening legal propaganda, signing commitments with people living in the vicinity of the highway, students from schools located in the area where the highway passes, patrolling on the highway to early detecting incidents and incidents occurring on the route … it is very necessary for the involvement of local authorities at all levels and functional forces to reduce this alarming situation “- VEC said.
Buying and storing stolen property can lead to jail time
According to Director of NTD Law Vietnam Consulting Company Nguyen Tan Dat, the act of stealing manhole covers and construction equipment in general, depending on the degree of behavior and consequences, can be considered as property theft. destroy property or intentionally damage other people’s property, especially this is State property.
Pursuant to Article 15 of Decree 144/2021, this act will result in a fine of 2-5 million VND or up to seven years in prison according to Article 173 of the Penal Code.
For individuals/organizations that buy back tools and equipment of public works due to theft (managed by the State, with written words), this act can be considered a violation. : Buying, selling, storing or using another person’s property knowing that such property is obtained by violating the law. This act is punishable by fine or imprisonment for up to three years according to Article 323 of the current Penal Code.
“It is necessary to strengthen the management, supervision and increase the fine, even strictly handle it as a deterrent, because these acts often occur, but sometimes the level is not enough for criminal handling. Continued acts must be handled appropriately,” said Mr. Dat.
HUY VU – NGUYEN TAN