Thieves eyeing metal water meters
Posted on July 28, 2013, Sunday
METAL water meters get stolen quite often these days.The serious implication of such devices being stolen day and night is that residents as well as businesses are left without vital water supply, not forgetting the unnecessary losses through water wastage and replacement of stolen meters.
Indeed, many Malaysian households have been left high and dry by metal water meter thieves in recent times. In one case across the water, more than 10 meters were stolen from a row of shops over just 24 hours.
As hundreds of these instruments are reportedly stolen every month across the country, consumers have been urged to switch to plastic ones, considered ‘steal-safe’ because they have zero resale value.
It stands to reason that whenever the price of metal goes up, the number of stolen metal water meters goes up as well. Plastic meters, on the other hand, are a damn sight safer to use because they are worth next to nothing second-hand – so thieves are less likely to steal them, if not throw them away after taking the metal pipes. Talk about adding insult to injury!
Although the water authorities own all registered metal water meters, consumers are responsible for the meters’ safekeeping as long as they remain fixed on the service pipe even in a public area.
Isn’t such a situation ludicrous? Surely, we can all agree it is not only inconvenient but also impractical for people to keep their water meters under constant surveillance even if they are installed outside their compounds.
Now, the victim has paid a certain sum for a new plastic meter before supply can be reconnected, sparking calls from consumer groups, business concerns and home-owners for the costs to be borne by the water authorities as part of their corporate social responsibilities.
According to a recent survey, Miri has the highest number of water meter thefts at 287, followed by Sibu (168) and Kuching (142). Admittedly, stolen meters are seldom recovered but tracing them is made easier by their engraved serial numbers. Recycling centres that buy these meters should be able to help identify the sellers.
Thefts of monsoon drain and manhole covers are also rampant. Not only is such thievery burning a big hole in the pockets of the local councils but also those of public utility companies, housing and private developers.
While metal thefts are committed at construction sites, electricity and telecom sub-stations, along public pavements and streets as well as residential homes, what’s disturbing is that the perpetrators are so unafraid of the law that they will strike at a time of their choosing – day or night.
One exasperated local council official had even likened replacing stolen metal covers to the Labour of Sisyphus – you replace the missing covers only for them to be stolen the next day – you replace them again and they get stolen again the next day – there is no end to it like poor Sisyphus rolling a boulder up the hill only to see it roll down again after reaching the top.
Given the situation, it makes a lot of sense to use ventilated cement blocks for all monsoon drains in place of metal ones as a deterrent and to cut losses. Scrap yard owners can help by not buying metal items they suspect to have been stolen. Periodical checks by the local councils and the police on scarp yards should continue to keep the culprits at bay.
One local council had reportedly spent about RM2.1 million over a three-year period just replacing stolen manhole and monsoon drain covers. The situation should improve significantly if the Second Hand Dealers Act 1964 is strictly enforced because buyers of scrap iron will then have to record the full particulars of the sellers. This will help the authorities control the movement and business transactions between scrap buyers and sellers.
Metal thefts, like all crimes, should be condemned. The public – and especially residents of housing estates – can help curb such transgressions by reporting any suspicious characters showing more than just a perfunctory interest in their water metres or drain covers.
Swift response by the authorities to such reports is equally important to wipe out metal thefts.
No one will be sorry to see the back of metal thieves who (for crying out loud) are able bodied people but apparently too lazy to work, preferring to steal and rob for a living.
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