Albtelecom suffering huge damage from asset thefts

TIRANA, Feb. 13 – 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.