Looting cargo is considered a crime subject to indictment

A very common scene when loads overturn on highways is the crowd of people looking for products such as cookies, cleaning items, drinks, among others. Even in the face of destruction and relief for potential victims of the accident, people are there in search of a personal advantage, which is illegal. It is the looting of cargo that, on several occasions, ignores the health status of the truck driver and other people who may have been injured when the cargo tipped over. However, the practice of looting cargo is a crime, as warned by the Estância Regional Police Station, which has already taken people to the police unit for involvement in the looting of a load of biscuits that fell onto BR-101.

It is as a crime of theft that the conduct of looting cargo can be legally classified, as explained by delegate Renato Tavares, from the Estância Regional Police Station. “Often the population is unaware but, in fact, whoever loots cargo commits the crime of theft. Anyone who resells products that are the result of looting, that is, theft, commits the crime of reception,” he specified.

In fact, in a recent case of a trailer overturning in the city of Estancia, the Estancia Regional Police Station began investigations into the looting of products, as the police unit was notified that the cargo had not been released. “And we took three people to the police station. These people were interviewed, and the investigations are still ongoing”, recalled Renato Tavares.

In this police investigation, the Estância Regional Police Station also collected images showing people who participated in the looting of this cargo, as reported by Renato Tavares. “And we count on the support of the population so that, seeing these images, seeing these people, they report it to the Civil Police, through the Hotline, on phone 181”, requested the delegate.

As soon as the people involved in looting the cargo are identified, the procedure is to call them for testimony at the Estância Regional Police Station. “We will collect the statements and then we will proceed with the investigations. If, at the end of the investigation, it is understood that looting took place, these people will be indicted, and the investigation will be forwarded to the Judiciary”, explained Renato Tavares.

The procedure is necessary because, as evidenced by the delegate, the insurance company did not release the cargo. “In this specific case of the cargo of cookies, the insurance company reported that it did not release the cargo. We heard from the insurance company, the driver, the military police officers who worked at the incident and people who were close to the accident site. There was no release of the cargo”, he reiterated.

This investigative procedure with the possibility of indictment serves as a warning for other possible situations involving the tipping of loads. “It is a way of informing the population that cargo should not be looted, as this will result in a crime. It is important to understand that it is not correct to loot the cargo, which has an owner”, concluded Renato Tavares, from the Estância Regional Police Station.

Source: Sergipe Public Security Secretariat (SSP/SE)