Several sandbags placed on the streets to prevent floods were stolen in Constanţa, Romania. The City Hall stated that stealing sandbags is a crime.
”The Municipality of Constanţa warns that the sandbags installed on the city streets to prevent floods are not common goods at the citizens’ disposal, but protective measures that are recovered and reused.
They were placed to protect homes, commercial spaces in the city during extreme weather events,” representatives of the Constanţa City Hall stated on Thursday.
Some residents stole the sandbags installed by the authorities.
”For example, in the Km 5 neighborhood, at the intersection of Hatman Arbore Street with Popa Farcaş Street, all 20 sandbags installed by the authorities were stolen," the cited source mentioned.
The Constanţa City Hall reminds that taking, moving, or diverting materials placed by the authorities for prevention and management of emergency situations constitutes a criminal offense and entails legal responsibility.
”The sandbags were placed for public protection, not for private use. Their use for personal purposes – including in construction works – is equivalent to misappropriation of public goods.
Each bag taken unlawfully diminishes the neighborhood's safety level and endangers the community,” representatives of the Constanţa City Hall further stated.
After the severe weather episode, the sandbags placed preventively in the city have started to be collected.
”It is important for residents not to intervene with these materials – neither move them nor use them for personal purposes.
If you have taken bags by mistake, return them immediately to their original place or notify the authorities.
If you have seen individuals stealing bags, urgently report it to the City Hall Dispatch or Local Police,” representatives of the Constanţa City Hall also announced.
Constanţa was the county most affected by the red alert of heavy rains.