“For a long time, the rural world and farmers have been systematically reporting thefts, whether of crops or equipment,” said the Secretary-General of CAP (Confederation of Portuguese Farmers), Luís Mira, in response to Lusa.
The confederation emphasized that waves of thefts and consequent destruction of electricity transformation stations and irrigation pivots have been a constant practice over the years. These crimes are aimed at removing copper for subsequent resale, a situation that, according to farmers, has reached worrying levels.
CAP also said that these thefts have led to “substantial losses” for farmers, especially in regions such as Alentejo, Ribatejo, or Póvoa do Varzim, already penalized by crop theft, such as cork.
Given this scenario, Luís Mira called on the government and authorities to reinforce surveillance in rural areas. Farmers also want to see the penal framework for these crimes increased, as well as the implementation of receiver inspections and the creation of mechanisms to track the sale of stolen products and materials, “which feed the parallel trade and whose proceeds fuel other illicit businesses.”
According to data from the National Republican Guard (GNR) sent to Lusa, in 2022, 446 crimes were recorded and 11 suspects were arrested. The following year, 554 crimes and 16 arrests were counted. Up to August 2024, the GNR arrested five suspects and recorded 322 crimes, mainly in April.
By district, the highest number of copper thefts occurred in Santarém (61). The districts of Leiria (40), Faro (34), Lisbon (27), Aveiro (27), and Coimbra (26) also stand out. They are followed by Braga (15), Évora (15), Castelo Branco (12), Porto (11), Setúbal (11), Beja (nine), Portalegre (eight), Viana do Castelo (seven), Viseu (six), Guarda (six), Vila Real (four), and Bragança (three).
According to the GNR, this type of theft is operated by “climbing the posts and loosening the cables on the supports, with the suspended parts being subsequently cut on the ground.” The modus operandi also includes cutting the poles, causing them to fall and dragging the cable. “Subsequently, the cable is cut in the suspended parts to avoid the greatest possible extension. Sometimes, trees are intentionally knocked down to drag the cables with them, which are then cut on the ground,” they explained.
Lusa questioned the Ministry of Agriculture about the thefts in the sector. The ministry headed by José Manuel Fernandes assured that it is working with the Ministry of Internal Administration for increased policing, having already contacted the confederations to request indication of which regions are most likely to be targeted for theft.
Regarding thefts in the agricultural sector, which also include crop thefts, the Ministry of Agriculture is studying the “possibility, viability, and legality” of some measures, including the use of European Union mechanisms to support part of the cost for implementing security systems in the field, “as a deterrent to theft and vandalism that farmers suffer during campaigns.”