• GUILLERMO DEL PALACIO

Updated on Tuesday, 29June2021-01: 37

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Since its use for power generation began to be normalized, either in large parks or in private residences -that is, in the beginning of the century-,

solar panels

have suffered two plagues of theft that seriously damaged the sector.

Without reaching the previous biblical level, the Civil Guard has detected that these abductions have grown, although with a much more pedestrian purpose and away from the mafias: self-consumption.

Civil Guard sources confirm that there has been an increase in the

theft of photovoltaic panels

in communities such as Andalusia or Castilla-La Mancha.

In others, such as Madrid, this trend has not been appreciated, although they believe that it is due both to the smaller number and to the fact that many of them are located in urbanizations with greater security.

Miguel Ángel Martínez-Aroca

, president of the National Association of Energy Producers (ANPIER), does not believe that this can be compared with the "great waves" of "very important robberies" of 2009 and 2017. However, despite not having proof that there is an increase in robberies makes sense: "today electricity is worth a lot of money; the electricity bill is becoming prohibitive," he explains.

Before continuing, it is convenient to remember the two swells that Martínez-Aroca speaks of.

The first affected the panels themselves and took place around 2009, "when a solar panel was worth exactly the same as a plasma television at that time."

That is, it could be around 400 euros.

"They were in rural areas, so they would jump over the gates or cut them down," says the manager. "They took risks with the alarms, because it didn't matter; actually taking two, three or four panels was a great robbery." Later they were sent to Africa - the Civil Guard intercepted "many shipments" by road and in the port of Algeciras, where they were in high demand. But over time it stopped being profitable because the price has dropped considerably: "today a panel costs exactly 90% less."

The second wave arrived, like that of the song, with excessive force. "There was a lot of theft," recalls Martínez-Aroca, but in this case, the copper from the facilities, not the plates. "They removed the wrapping that surrounds it and everything else is copper of the highest value," he points out, and "they

knew how to cut off the electricity so as not to get burned

." To the important value of copper, one of the most expensive elements of the installation, it was necessary to add that the theft caused "important damages and stops". In his case, an attack in Jumilla caused him to lose "more than 120,000 euros in a single night."

Those who surfed this wave with "virulence and speed" were organized gangs from eastern Europe "specialized in extracting copper in large quantities."

"They even came with trucks; the uncles were super professional," recalls the businessman, who points out, relieved, that they were arrested.

Thus we arrive at the current situation that Martínez-Aroca sees as feasible, although not worrisome: "organized gangs, no; petty thieves to take the panel for self-consumption? It is possible."

Although not profitable, since it calculates that its price will be around five or ten euros and a panel is worth about 80.

In any case, he believes that it does not make much sense, because the legal alternative is affordable and adds advantages - without the obvious of not committing a crime - such as the guarantee.

"I see it almost more of a vital need to be illuminated wherever these people live than the fact that there really is a black market that is demanding stolen and used panels," he explains.

"It is like the one who steals to eat: the light is prohibitive and six panels give you to illuminate a small house at a basic level of illumination".

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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