Two men, aged 52 and 45, were arrested this Wednesday in Mallabia by the Ertzaintza, facing charges of theft of public lighting cable. They were apprehended while removing electrical wires from utility access boxes.
The incident occurred at 7:10 AM. Patrols from the Eibar police station, engaged in public safety duties, were dispatched to the Mallabarrena neighborhood following reports of two individuals tampering with a utility box and taking cable, according to the Basque Government's Department of Security.
Upon arrival, officers observed two men emerging from bushes and proceeded to identify them. A cursory search revealed a backpack containing various tools and a knife.
350 meters
The officers also noted an open utility box from which the grounding line and electrical cable were missing. In the vicinity, approximately 350 meters of cable, ripped from the public lighting system, were found scattered in the undergrowth.
A more detailed inspection uncovered a total of fifteen utility boxes with forced welds and missing wiring.
Consequently, the officers arrested both men, Spanish nationals, on suspicion of aggravated theft. The detainees, who have prior arrests for similar offenses, were transported to the police station in Eibar and brought before a judge on Wednesday afternoon.
