Apartment residents in Ho Chi Minh City are worried after thieves cut all the copper lightning protection cables.

Somehow, the entire copper grounding cable system for lightning protection and the power supply wires for the pressure-generating fans in the fire protection system of the Chuong Duong Home apartment complex (Thu Duc Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) have "vanished without a trace".

The Chuong Duong Home residential area - where the unusual incident occurred when the entire copper lightning protection cable system evaporated - Photo: CT

" Vaporize " 6. 50m copper lightning protection cable , 100m power cable for fire protection.

According to the incident report from the management board of Chuong Duong Home apartment building (No. 34, Street 12, Thu Duc Ward), the incident was discovered at 8:00 AM on May 4th, when technical staff were conducting a routine inspection.

At the scene, the thieves cut and stole a large amount of copper cable from key areas of all five apartment blocks (A1, A2, B, C1, C2).

Specifically, all the copper cables running from the roof down to the second floor of the five building blocks were cut, with an estimated length of up to 650 meters. The report emphasizes that this incident completely neutralized the building's lightning protection capabilities.

At the same time, the power supply wiring for the pressure-generating fans at compressors C1 and C2 has also "disappeared" for about 100 meters.

Reports from management indicate that thieves cut and stole approximately 100 meters of power cable supplying electricity from the control panel to the pressure-generating fan motor, causing a power outage to the fire suppression system.

Notably, the thieves were very sophisticated, taking advantage of the fact that the cables were inside rigid plastic pipes and junction boxes to cut and steal them from the inside, making it very difficult to detect from the outside.

Residents are worried about losing their " safety shield " during the rainy and stormy season.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Nguyen Tien Hung (a resident of apartment B0625 - Chuong Duong Home apartment building, and also the Head of the Front Committee of neighborhood 46) could not hide his frustration and worry. Mr. Hung said that the incident directly affects the security, safety, and lives of more than 1,200 apartments in the building.

"The loss of lightning protection systems and fire exhaust fan cables poses a very high risk of fire and lightning strikes, especially as Ho Chi Minh City is entering the rainy and stormy season," Mr. Hung shared.

Another resident also said that upon hearing the news, everyone questioned the responsibility of the management unit for allowing large-scale theft to occur across all five blocks of buildings, from the rooftop down to the ground floor, without the security guards being aware of it.

Because this must have been a professional group with expertise in the terrain and technical aspects to carry out such a systematic operation across all the apartment blocks, residents of the building expressed their desire for the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to restore peace and tranquility to the community.

To address the issue temporarily, the apartment building management is contacting suppliers to obtain price quotes and will soon restore the fire protection and lightning protection systems for all five blocks. Simultaneously, the security unit has been instructed to increase patrols of the rooftop areas and technical shafts to a frequency of 45-60 minutes per visit, along with photographic evidence to prevent similar incidents from occurring.

The police have launched an investigation.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , a representative of the Thu Duc Ward Police (Ho Chi Minh City) initially confirmed receiving a report from the management board of Chuong Duong Home apartment building regarding the "loss of the connecting wire from the lightning rod on the rooftop to the ground".

Upon receiving the report, the authorities arrived at the scene to record the facts, conduct verification, collect evidence, consolidate the case file, and handle the matter according to regulations.

CONG TRIEU - MINH HOA

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cu-dan-chung-cu-o-tp-hcm-bat-an-khi-trom-cat-sach-cap-dong-chong-set-20260508145513918.htm