Maceió traffic signal thefts prompt police investigation

The Municipal Department of Transport and Traffic (DMTT) has filed a police report with the Civil Police of Alagoas to investigate a series of thefts targeting traffic signals in Maceió. Over the last two months, more than 10 incidents of theft involving cables and semaphore equipment have been recorded.

Recent thefts occurred in the city center at the intersection of Barão de Atalaia and Misael Domingues streets, as well as in the Poço neighborhood at the corner of Av. Cid Escala and Travessa Senhor do Bonfim. In the latter case, an attempt to cut the wiring caused a short circuit that disabled the entire system. Stolen items include copper cabling, repeater signal lights, and push buttons.

DMTT President André Costa warned that inoperable equipment poses a critical risk of collisions and pedestrian accidents, particularly at high-traffic intersections. The thefts also impact urban mobility by causing traffic congestion and potentially delaying emergency services such as ambulances and fire trucks.