A man has been arrested for stealing cables and batteries at a solar park in Matanzas

A man was arrested for allegedly stealing 700 meters of cable, batteries, and other devices from a photovoltaic solar panel park in Colón, Matanzas, official sources reported.

The theft occurred at the solar park located in the town of Deseada, in the municipality of Matanzas, according to a post from the Facebook profile “Con Todos La Victoria”, which is associated with the Ministry of the Interior. The post did not specify the date on which the incident took place.

As a result of the investigation, the police arrested Yeraldo Lantigua Padrón and seized at his home more than 300 meters of cable, four batteries, and 178 connectors, as well as thousands of pesos in cash, tools, and the clothing he was wearing when he committed the crime.

Lantigua Padrón will be charged with the crime of sabotage and has a criminal record for robbery with force, theft, and disobedience, according to the official source.

"Unfortunately, the negative consequences of criminal acts like these fall on others, at a time when the impact of electrical service disruptions is very complex, and it seems the criminal couldn't care less," the statement warned.

"After the recovery of the stolen goods," he asserted, "the operation of the park was restored, which is very important for electricity generation."

The thefts of devices, parts, and other components from solar parks have become very common in the country. Last June, five metal beams were stolen from the same park in Deseada - which was then under construction - used as support bases for the photovoltaic panels. The police arrested two suspects in the crime; one of them worked as a guard at the facility.

The People's Supreme Court of Cuba approved a ruling in May that any actions involving damage, theft, or alteration of the country's strategic infrastructures, such as railways, transportation means, the national electricity system, solar parks, generators, and telecommunications. Sabotage is one of the most serious criminal offenses outlined in the current Penal Code.