In the period to July this year, thieves in Córdoba have so far stolen 70 kilometres of copper cable to leave several areas without street lighting.
The council has so far spent €300,000, half of its annual public lighting maintenance budget, on replacing around 13 kilometres of cable. In some instances, cabling has already been replaced three times. Increased security might be in order.
Many streets in the Alcolea, Brillante and Guadalquivir districts remain without public lighting at night and some bar owners, and even private individuals, have taken to fixing spotlights to facades.
Even Plaza de la Cerería, home of the Civic Centre, is without public lighting.
The Council says that replacing cables is a complex and costly business and is asking people to be patient as it tries to slowly rectify the situation, beginning with areas of high population density.