On Monday afternoon, two men were apprehended in Belém after being suspected of qualified theft involving copper wire. The incident took place on Estrada da Ceasa in the Curió-Utinga neighborhood. The Municipal Department of Security, Public Order, and Mobility reported that the individuals were caught in the act of burning wires, which is a method used to remove insulation from copper wiring to facilitate its sale. Initially, the suspects claimed they had found the wires on the street but later admitted they intended to sell them at a scrap yard in the Marco neighborhood.

As authorities intervened, they confiscated tools including a wire cutter and a chisel from the suspects, which are commonly used for cutting electrical wiring. Following standard procedure, the pair was taken to the Division for the Repression of Thefts and Robberies (DRFR) of the Civil Police for legal proceedings. Upon investigation at the scrap yard they mentioned, officials found additional copper wires lacking proper documentation, adding to the total seizure of 46 kilograms of copper with questionable origins.

This incident highlights ongoing issues with metal theft in urban areas, where copper is increasingly targeted due to its high resale value. The swift action by local authorities underscores the importance of vigilance and active law enforcement in deterring such crimes, as the theft of copper can lead to significant infrastructure damage, posing risks to public safety and causing financial loss to businesses and communities.