Two individuals were caught allegedly attempting to steal eight aluminum tubes from the railing of the Matanzas Viaduct, in another incident related to the theft of public infrastructure elements in a province where similar events have occurred repeatedly over the past few months.
The incident occurred this Wednesday in the La Playa area, according to the official profile Con Todos La Victoria, which reported that the authorities detected the two individuals while they were attempting to take the pipes from the structure.
According to the publication, the police intervention prevented the theft from occurring and avoided further damage to the bridge railing.
The profile indicated that those involved will receive "the appropriate treatment, as established by law," although it did not identify the individuals involved, whether they were detained, nor what criminal charges might be applicable to them.
This episode, which did not lead to major consequences, highlights the vulnerability of public infrastructure and also demonstrates the growing insecurity experienced, with thefts and acts of vandalism even affecting essential components of bridges and other communal structures.
Additionally, the case is particularly striking because it became known just a few days after a section of the metal railings from another bridge in Matanzas disappeared.
The released photographs showed a complete section torn from a structure in the so-called City of Bridges, with no responsible parties identified at the time.
The deterioration and theft of metal components have also affected other public spaces in the city of Matanzas.
In May, several sections of the perimeter fence of the Armando Carnot playground had been gradually disappearing, while the place remained without guardians and in a state of advanced neglect.
Additionally, the province is also facing thefts against essential facilities. Authorities acknowledged that same month an increase in the theft of dielectric oil from transformers, incidents that have left entire communities without electricity and caused damage to the energy system's equipment.
In several of those cases, the perpetrators take advantage of remote or poorly protected facilities to steal materials that can later be resold in the informal market, according to officials from the Ministry of the Interior when discussing thefts against the electrical system.
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