Opinion (Rogério COPETO / Official GNR): The CORK THEFT
At the end of last month and at the beginning of this, They were recorded at least three cork theft occurrences, which is a phenomenon, What concerns the GNR and has higher expression in the summer.
Rogério COPETO
Lieutenant Colonel of the GNR, Master in Law and Security and Homeland Security Auditor
Head of the Education Division / Command Doctrine and Training
One of the thefts occurred on 26 July, a farm in Ferreira do Alentejo county, district of Beja where about stolen from 2.600 kilograms of cork as referred to in Article "More than 2.600 kilograms of stolen cork estate."
The second occurrence was echoed in the article "Santiago do Cacém: Three arrested for theft cork", reporting that "A GNR deteve dia 28 July three people, on a private estate in Sado Alvalade, in the Santiago municipality of Cacém, by cork theft, in total 60 arrobas, or equivalent to about 880 kilos ".
The third theft occurred in Coruche, on 4 August and was echoed in several OCS, particularly in the online journal "Ribatejo", that in his article "GNR catches cork theft suspects", it is stated that "The GNR Coruche identified two men, with 24 and 27 year old, on suspicion of theft cork in a property in the town of Bharatpur, in Coruche. After a complaint, Patrol was able to locate and approach a vehicle that was suspected of being involved in theft. The passengers were inspected and transported cork without being able to prove their origin. The two men were made defendants. The approximately 120 kilograms of cork are valued at 300 euros and were seized, like the car which was transported ".
As mentioned at the beginning, cork theft is concern of GNR, in particular by the Detachments Territorial where the cork oak forest prevails and is an important economic resource, and those located in Setúbal districts, Évora and Beja are the most affected by this criminal phenomenon, it is therefore not surprising that it was in the Territorial Detachment of Santiago do Cacém who was born the "Project Safe Cork".
The "Project Safe Cork" was born on 29 July 2015, thus having already completed one year of existence, and was presented publicly by cComandamte the Territorial Detachment of Santiago do Cacém at the Municipal Auditorium Antonio Chaínho, in Santiago do Cacém. At the presentation event was held an action of information and awareness towards the owners and cork producers, in order to inform them of the new policing project and prevention of cork thefts, who was born in order to combat this criminal phenomenon, causing huge economic damage.
Because of its originality "Project Safe Cork" deserved the attention of the Media (OCS), with the edition of Morning Mail 06 August 2015, through article "GNR combat cork theft"Given to know the project.
Also the Renaissance Radio in a piece dated 03 September 2015 and authored by journalist Rosario Silva, entitled "Cork thieves in the sights of GNR", We had the opportunity to publicize the project.
The Sun newspaper also refers in its edition 1 October 2015, the "Project Safe Cork", in the article entitled "Increase cork theft", authored by journalist Sonia Balasteiro.
The "Project Safe Cork" one year after its presentation has since been extended to the neighboring Territorial Detachment of Grândola and its operation, Territorial Command Setúbal, they belong both Detachments, launched this year for the first time "Operation 'Safe Cork’”.
"Operation 'Safe Cork'" Territorial Command of Setúbal aims to prevent, detect and suppress cork theft occurrences, especially in the areas of Detachments Territorial Santiago do Cacém and Grândola, and runs from the days 1 May and 30 September 2016, strengthening policing along the forest properties and assembled cork, located in the most municipalities south of the Setúbal district, Alcacer do Sal, Grândola, Santiago do Cacém and Sines.
Policing reinforcement is twofold, increased patrolling in potentially more favorable areas the incidence of this criminal offense, and discontinuous oriented policing forest properties and cork storage locations.
To increase the effectiveness of the operation the Territorial Command Setúbal invites owners, producers and stockists cork interested in joining this special policing project, and therefore to move up to the existing territorial offices in the municipalities referred, and fill out a simple registration form, to join the project and ensure this way, a discontinuous patrol their properties.
Through an internet search it turns out that the invitation by the GNR of Setúbal was not only accepted, as the leading organization of cork producers, the Association of Sado Valley Forest Producers, to play on your page in Facebook, representing producers welcomed willingly this initiative of Setúbal GNR, since they are the most affected by cork theft and realize that the responsibility for prevention starts by the owners and cork producers.
We believe that the "Project Safe Cork" have fruit, if not Have, contributing to the significant reduction of cork thefts in the district of Setúbal, should this good practice be extended to the districts of Évora and Beja, while considering that the next step should now be given, similar to what happened to the precious metals theft, because both criminal phenomena have similar contours.
Both cork theft, such as precious metals theft generate easy profits, because there is demand for these articles, obtaining value when reintroduced into the commercial circuit, the first in the manufacturing industry and the second by recycling.
Both criminal phenomena are difficult to prevent, because the targets of thefts are located mainly in isolated areas and protection measures and active and passive safety are costly and difficult to implement, as well as easy disposal difficult repression of these two types of crime, owing to receiving sites and easy reintroduction into the legal market.
And like the cork theft, also in GNR to combat and prevent the theft of precious metals was implemented the "Field Project Safe", which has a partnership with the operators of the telecommunications sectors, energy and transport, on the one hand and on the other waste management operators, culminating with significant legislative changes, aimed at regulating the recetação of metal items delivered to scrap by private, procedure to be followed, as regards the prevention of theft cork, because only the regulation of cork delivery in the manufacturing industry, by individuals, may contribute to the terminus of this criminal phenomenon, which seriously undermines the economy of the regions of Extremadura and Alentejo, as also to combat cork theft, It is not enough to implement a response from the GNR, requiring joint action by the judicial authorities, civil society and economic agents.
