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Lebanon’s Monetary Crisis Forces Thieves to Change Their Tactics

Demonstrators hold loaves of bread that read we are only against hunger - REUTERS
Demonstrators hold loaves of bread that read we are only against hunger - REUTERS
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Lebanon’s Monetary Crisis Forces Thieves to Change Their Tactics

Demonstrators hold loaves of bread that read we are only against hunger - REUTERS
Demonstrators hold loaves of bread that read we are only against hunger - REUTERS

It is hard to find a Lebanese home without a metal safe to store money and precious belongings, especially these days, as the home robbery rate rises. However, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, a woman said safes alone do not make you feel secure.

“If the thief was armed, he could force us to open the safe and take everything. So, we are looking for ways to safely hide our money in the house," she stressed.

In light if the current dire economic situation, more people are buying safes fearing the rise of robberies. Even public institutions and places of worship are not safe. Two months ago, unidentified robbers stole the safe of an office for the ''Electricity of Lebanon'.' Also, a donation box of a church got recently stolen.

Some thefts are minor and spontaneous, like the incident that happened around two weeks ago, when a man stole some shawarma from a restaurant. The owner stopped his employees from chasing the man, saying that he was just trying to feed his family. Others, however, are major and sophisticated. In a village in the south, over one hundred thousand dollars were stolen from a house equipped with cameras, and the thieves did not leave a trace.

On the street, women are especially vulnerable to theft, as thieves see in them easy prey; voice notes warning women about this and recommending that they refrain from wearing jewellery are spreading. It is worth noting though, that auto-theft, notoriously common in the Beqaa, is declining because of the difficulty of selling the cars or receiving a ransom in exchange for their return; in light of the shortage of liquidity.

Instead, motorcycle theft is on rise because they are easier to sell and useful for the thieves.

Armed robberies of pharmacies are also on the rise. One pharmacist, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat says that he: “was forced to install a metal door with a gap at the pharmacy’s entrance, passing medicine on to clients through this gap at night. I also have a gun by my side that I hope I'll never have to use.

According to the Internal Security Forces’ figure, there were 1573 thefts recorded in 2019, 240 looting and 668 pickpockets, an increase of 13.1% as compared to the previous year. However, this rate is better than it was between 2014 and 2017. The rate of theft is 131 per month in 2019. While it reached 190 thefts per month in 2014.

The security authorities believe: “The rate of theft is very acceptable in light of the conditions in which the Lebanese are living under, and there is no need for panic. It is not true that poverty causes theft, even if it is an important factor."

Meanwhile, security forces pointed out that the speed of the security forces’ response and apprehension of the perpetrators limits this phenomenon; "the gangs responsible for stealing pharmacies have been arrested, as have some of the auto theft gangs. Lebanon is not in the midst of chaos because deterrence is quick to curb any criminal act.”

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Iran's Businesses Bear Brunt of Daily Power Blackouts

Repeated power cuts have angered Iranians in recent years, especially during the hot summer months - AFP
Repeated power cuts have angered Iranians in recent years, especially during the hot summer months - AFP
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Iran's Businesses Bear Brunt of Daily Power Blackouts

Repeated power cuts have angered Iranians in recent years, especially during the hot summer months - AFP
Repeated power cuts have angered Iranians in recent years, especially during the hot summer months - AFP

Baristas and servers linger outside a cafe in Tehran, smoking and chatting, as scheduled daytime power cuts due to energy shortages plunge businesses in Iran's capital into the dark.

"When the power is out, we are almost completely out of service," said Ali, a 30-year-old employee, of the nationwide rolling electricity outages imposed daily since November 11.

"We use mostly electrical equipment here in the cafe such as an electric oven and espresso machine," he told AFP, asking that only his first name be used.
Years of Western sanctions and a lack of investment in infrastructure have exacerbated the situation, especially during peak consumption months in summer and winter.

To deal with the shortages, the government has introduced two-hour blackouts, which rotate between various neighbourhoods in cities between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

President Masoud Pezeshkian attributed the decision to "low fuel reserves", saying Iran must "adjust the fuel for power plants so that we do not face problems in winter".

- 'Poison' -

Fatemeh Mohajerani, government spokeswoman, said power cuts were necessary to cut down on a relatively cheap low-quality fuel -- known as mazout -- used at some older-generation power plants.

The heavy fuel oil has been used for years to address power shortages despite its emissions causing heavy air pollution.

She said the public would need to deal with blackouts for a limited time, to find an alternative to what she described as "poison".

"It is unfair that part of the society should pay with their lives for the production of electricity," she added.

But for Mona, another employee at the cafe in Tehran -- home to about 10 million people -- it isn't worth the cost.

"The government says it has stopped burning mazut in a number of power plants in other cities, but we need to pay for that in Tehran," the 36-year-old told AFP.

Repeated power cuts have angered citizens of the Islamic republic in recent years, especially during the hot summer months.

In July, the authorities ordered the working hours of civil servants to be halved for several days in an attempt to save energy.

But energy shortages go beyond just electricity in Iran.

On November 12, National Iranian Gas Company announced daily gas consumption in the country had set a new record of 794 million cubic metres.

Economic expert Hassan Forouzanfard cited poor infrastructure, mismanagement and in particular Western sanctions as responsible for Iran's energy problems.

"Sanctions and the cutting of the ties with international energy companies have deprived us of both the necessary technology and investment to develop our oil and gas sectors," he told AFP.

- 'Warm clothes' -

"If we have a cold winter this year, we will have to collectively deal with both gas and electricity problems in the country," Forouzanfard said.
Iran, despite holding some of the world's largest natural gas and oil reserves, has grappled with massive energy shortages in recent months

"I do not think that the government would be able to either control the negative effects of the pollution or to resolve the energy imbalances in a reasonable and serious way in the short term," he added.

But Tehran says consumers must do their part to conserve energy.

"We have no choice but to consume energy economically, especially gas, in the current conditions and the cold weather," said Pezeshkian.

"I myself use warm clothes at home, others can do the same," the president added.

During one of the scheduled power cuts, a queue formed outside a supermarket in Tehran.

"Since it is dark inside and our CCTVs are offline, we allow just one customer at a time so we can better handle them," said Sina, a 24-year-old employee, who did not want to give his full name.

"We are afraid that in the dark and without the help of surveillance cameras, we can't figure out if an item goes missing," he said, arguing that the power cuts are hurting the small business.