RioLuz reports losses of over R$2 million due to cable theft in the first half of the year

In the first six months of 2025, the city of Rio de Janeiro recorded approximately 70 kilometers of electrical cables stolen from its street lighting system, a length equivalent to three times the distance from Leme to Pontal. The loss exceeded R$2 million.

In addition to the financial impacts, thefts compromise the lighting of roads, tunnels, and squares, directly affecting the quality of services provided to the population and affecting security in different areas of the city.

"We are tackling this challenge with concrete actions. We have intensified prevention measures and have already installed surveillance cameras at strategic locations, such as the Aterro do Flamengo and Praça Paris substations. We are also continuing with important projects to prevent theft, such as shielding electrical cable trays, installing mesh enclosures, replacing materials, and concreting junction boxes," says RioLuz president Rafael Thompson.

During the modernization project at the Noel Rosa Tunnel in the North Zone, electrical cable trays were installed high up in the ceiling to hinder access to the electrical wiring. Despite the protection, the area has once again become a target for criminal activity. RioLuz is currently studying the implementation of a new anti-theft project specifically for this structure.

The company executed projects on the Red Line, replacing approximately eight thousand meters of copper cables with aluminum, a material with lower resale value. In the Old Tunnel, which connects the Botafogo and Copacabana neighborhoods, more than 180 grated enclosures were installed around the streetlights, a measure also adopted in the Botafogo Beach underpass.

RioLuz emphasizes that, despite the challenges, the damage caused by this type of crime has been decreasing in recent months, a direct reflection of ongoing preventive measures. The public can contribute by reporting suspicious activity by calling 190.

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• Rioluz

24 July 2025

Appointments: Cable theft Street lighting rioluz