The theft of copper wires caused a loss of more than R$ 69 million to the municipal public coffers of Rio de Janeiro between 2021 and 2025. The Companhia de Engenharia de Tráfego (CET-Rio), responsible for installing the city's traffic signals, recorded the theft of almost 500 kilometers of traffic signal cables in the period, with losses of R$ 27 million. RioLuz, responsible for public lighting, recorded losses of R$ 42 million.
To try to reduce crime, security forces and the City of Rio carried out this Wednesday (2) the first operational action of the Integrated Center for Combating Theft and Receiving of Copper Cables and Wiring. The operation focused on scrapyards that may act in the reception of stolen material.
According to the municipality, more than 1,200 traffic signals were affected by the thefts, compromising road safety and public lighting in the city.
