THERE seems to be an almost insatiable demand for scrap metal. And not just locally. It started many years ago.
There was even an international dimension that traced such demand all the way to China. Thus, local councils have been hard put to keep metal covers for manholes and drains in place, among other things.
The raging fire in Pasir Gudang, Johor, in recent days is said to be deliberately started by cable thieves seeking to separate scrap metal from piles of wood. The blaze has spread to an area of 1.4ha. Firefighters were still battling it some 19 hours later.
This is a stark reminder that theft is not merely a property crime when criminals are willing to put lives, the environment and public safety at risk just so they can get their hands on ill-gotten goods.
These cannot be isolated cases. The authorities need to see them for what they are: networks, organised syndicates and weak enforcement coming together for such activities to persist.
There is a worrying pattern of recklessness involved here. In recent days, cable thefts have disrupted critical infrastructure, including the KLIA Ekspres and KLIA Transit services.
The common thread is criminals helping themselves to materials for their resale value, with total disregard for the consequences to and convenience and safety of the wider public.
What appears as cost-free quick profit for the thieves will translate into disrupted services, costly repairs and replacements, environmental damage and even risks to human lives.
Any foolproof solutions must target the market for such ill-gotten materials, not just the thieves involved. Enforcement must not stop with arresting those caught stealing.
The authorities must root out the supply chain by identifying and shaming scrap dealers who knowingly purchase stolen materials and take firm action against buyers providing the outlet for such looted goods.
Absent a ready market, the incentive to steal will be substantially reduced. The police, local authorities, government agencies and scrap metal industry players must work together to improve traceability, verify the origins of the materials and single out suspicious transactions.
Licensing and inspection regimens must be consistently enforced, with painful penalties imposed on businesses complicit in facilitating the trade in stolen goods.
Consequences for those caught must be fully proportionate to the harm caused. Investigations into the Johor blaze must establish its cause as well as the extent of responsibility of all those involved.
Where criminal wrongdoing is evident, the prosecution and penalties ought to reflect not only the severity of the crime, but also any additional and related offences and damage caused.
The punishment must be severe enough to act as a deterrent. Punitive certainty and consistency will serve as credible and timely warning to those involved in such sordid and nefarious thefts and trades to desist.
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