Hotline of power engineering specialists:
IDGC of Centre — Belgorodenergo division for 9 months of 2012 recorded 12 cases of theft of electrical items, the total damage from which amounted to more than 378,000 rubles. On nine counts internal affairs authorities initiated criminal cases.
The largest number of cases was recorded in Belgorod, Starooskolsky and Alexeyevsky districts. The plunderers did not spare power equipment of Shebekino, Valuyskiy, Krasnogvardeysky and Rakityansky districts.
So, in Stary Oskol a distribution point of an intermediate pump station was looted from which offenders stole parts from non-ferrous metal, and the rest of the electrical equipment was smashed. In Krasnogvardeyskiy district 455 meters of wire were stolen. In the regional centre a relay protection microprocessor unit in a transformer substation was of evil-doers’ interest.
These facts lead to the disruption of power supply not only residential consumers, but also of such socially important facilities such as schools, hospitals and kindergartens. In addition, funds that could be used for the construction and reconstruction of power facilities, power engineers have to divert to restore lines and substations. But most importantly, it is illegal to interfere in the work of electrical installations, thieves threaten their lives and the lives of others. The facts show that even thieves, who are thoroughly trained professionals, forget about the laws of physics and are subject to electric shock.
Intruders who managed to steal are subject to be prosecuted under article 158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Theft”. Specialists of Belgorodenergo promptly document facts of theft, then transfer the information to the police, which operational cooperation is established with. This helps catch the offender in hot pursuit.
For your information:
According to the 158th article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, the theft of property from operating power facilities is qualified as stealing someone else’s property, and is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years. Disruption of power equipment, and other critical infrastructure, according to Article 215.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, is punishable by a fine of 100 to 500 thousand rubles, or correctional labour for a term of 1 year to 2 years, or with imprisonment from 1 to 3 years. If the damage resulted in the death of a person, a guilty person is deprived of liberty for up to 7 years.