Albtelecom, State police cooperate to prevent thefts

TIRANA, March 6 -Turkish owned Albtelecom landline phone and internet provider says it has implemented a sophisticated alarm system against damage to its network, assisting in prompt detection of cases of cable cuts. This system immediately signals the center for the network detachment and at the same time notifies the Security Forces. This system will help to prevent and catch robbers.
After the criminal acts to Albtelecom’s infrastructure the company has launched collaboration with the State Police in order to capture and punish the perpetrators, and prevent this phenomenon that penalizes end-users of internet and telephony, causing also financial damage to services offered to citizens by Albtelecom.
The Albtelecom Company and State Police have maximally increased their attention to prevent theft and damage to the company’s network and infrastructure. Albtelecom and authorities in charge have launched nationwide controls to find the sales destinations of these materials.
Turkish owned Albtelecom landline phone and internet provider says it has suffered damage of around 1 million euros in the past two years from theft to its assets in its manholes. The company says it has suffered damage worth Euro 900,000 in 2011 and 2012 and around 44,000 Euros in January 2013. “Since more than two years criminal gangs continue robbing assets such as batteries fixed-line telephone and internet cables, damaging both the company and citizens.” The company says police have been able to catch only two gangs operating in Tirana suburban areas of Sauk and Kombinat. Tirana tops the list of most thefts followed by Elbasan, Berat, Durres, Gjirokastra and Fier. “Only in 2012, some 547 thefts took place affecting the service of more than 27,000 customers.”
Albtelecom calls on citizens to cooperate with the company and police to prevent the thefts and denounce them, stressing that the assets of the company serve to provide service to households, businesses, private and public institutions.
Turkey’s Calik Group, which is present in Albania with fixed-line operator Albtelecom, Eagle Mobile and Banka Kombetare Tregtare (BKT Bank), is the most successful Turkish company in Albania.