Two people have been arrested in Motril after police allegedly caught them stealing public electrical cables linked to street lighting, following a series of blackouts in the Costa Tropical town.
The joint operation involving Motril’s Local Police and National Police was launched after repeated failures in the public lighting system raised suspicions that cables were being removed from underground inspection chambers.
Police catch alleged cable thieves in the act
Officers were patrolling near Avenida Enrique Martin Cuevas when they reportedly spotted a woman apparently keeping watch while a man pulled electrical cable from an inspection chamber serving the street lights.
Both suspects tried to flee when they realised police had spotted them, but officers intercepted them nearby. Police seized tools allegedly used to cut and extract the cables, as well as several rolls of cable suspected of having been stolen. Investigators believe the pair may be responsible for thefts affecting public lighting infrastructure at several locations.
Street-lighting thefts leave residents in darkness
Repeated blackouts had already led police to step up surveillance in the affected area. Officers had reportedly identified a suspicious individual moving around with equipment suitable for tampering with electrical cables before the arrests were made.
Removing underground wiring can cause more than inconvenience for residents. Street lights that stop working can leave roads and pavements in darkness, potentially creating hazards for pedestrians and motorists. Repairing damaged public infrastructure can also leave local authorities facing additional costs, including replacing stolen cable and repairing inspection chambers and other equipment. The full value of the damage in Motril has yet to be established.
Copper cable thefts affect other Spanish towns
Motril is not the only town to face this type of crime. In March, Euro Weekly News reported an attempted copper cable theft that damaged street lighting in Mijas, leaving an area without public lighting despite the thieves failing to remove the cables. Recent blackouts on the streets of Fuengirola also point to copper-cable theft.
Copper is commonly targeted because it can be sold for scrap, while the damage caused during extraction can cost councils far more than the metal itself is worth.
Both Motril arrests relate to suspected offences, and the case is now being dealt with by the judicial authorities. Police have not established any connection between the suspects and recent street-lighting problems in Fuengirola.