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Cable
Theft Left Airport Without Radar
Stealing cable in Costa Rica has
become a profitable enterprise
for some and a headache for
police and utility companies.
Thieves steal telephone and
electrical cable for their
copper content and with time
have become more sophisticated
in their craft.
In some cases whole communities
have been left in the dark due
to the cable theft. In other
cases, the thefts have resulted
in injury and death for the
thieves.
The latest case, however, show
the sophistication of the
enterprising. Thieves stole some
300 meters (1.000 feet) of cable
that connected the Radar Control
Tower to the Juan Santamaría
airport in San José, the Daniel
Oduber airport in Liberia and
the Tobías Bolaños airport in
Pavas.
The theft left the screens at
the Radar Centre blank and
almost caused a national
emergency, as the cable serves
to transmit meteorological
reports, flight plans and
communications between the
respective control towers.
The theft occurred early Sunday
morning in what police believe
to be perpetrated by highly
sophisticated group, since
proper equipment and tools is
necessary to reach the cable to
reached up the 12 metre tower.
The value of the cable is
estimated at ¢5 million colones
(us$10.000).
The cable was installed on a
tower outside the airport
terminal, near the General Cañas
highway. According to
Vice-minister of Transportes,
Eduard Montero, the Consejo
Técnico de Aviación Civil
(aviation centre) was able to
implement an contingency plan to
keep airport operations running
safely, using radio and
walkie-talkies to transmit
information between the towers.
The Organismo de Investigación
Judicia (OIJ) - judicial
investigative unit - is on the
case, giving it the utmost
priority as this type of theft
not only is of a material loss
but puts hundreds, even
thousands of lives in danger.
Reports say that a thief can
sell the cable, in the black
market, for up to ¢1.400 colones
(us$2.75) per kilo for copper
and ¢600 colones (us$1.20) for a
kilo of bronze.
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