‘Go after Butuan streetlight thieves’

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – A city engineer has appealed to authorities to take immediate action against thieves who prey on streetlights.

“Because dimly lighted or dark portions of city streets no longer have lights, this causes snatchers to victimize pedestrians at night or nightshift workers walking home at dawn or midnight,” said Walter Butao, deputy city engineer and in-charge of the electrical division of the city engineering office.

“We need real cooperation on this growing problem or else our budget for the whole electrical services division will only be emptied by purchasing replacement bulbs, wires and posts,” Butao said.

Butao appealed to residents who witness these thefts to immediately report such incidents to the nearest police station or call or text the police hotline.