Residents of Vila do Estreito, in Pedregulho (SP), report a series of thefts from homes and the electricity grid that have caused damage and increased the feeling of insecurity in the community. According to them, the lack of access control to the village and the abandonment of properties contribute to the problem.
The community, which emerged during the construction of the Furnas Hydroelectric Plant, has more than 300 inhabitants and receives practically double that population on weekends. In recent months, residents have reported home invasions, theft of equipment and interruptions in electricity supply that have lasted up to four days.
"The village is abandoned, abandoned. It has no security support", says businesswoman Luciana Basali Garcia.
Last Thursday (12), criminals invaded a residence while the owners were in Franca (SP). The thieves took television sets, a drinking fountain, tools and other objects. The property's kitchen was also flooded.
When contacted, Axia Energia, responsible for managing the hydroelectric plant, did not comment on the matter until the publication of this report. The Public Security Secretariat (SSP) did not take a position on the complaints.
In another house, broken into at the beginning of November, the damage was so great that the owner decided to put the property up for sale.
The situation worries residents who chose Vila do Estreito for its tranquility. Now, they say they live in fear of further invasions.
Lack of input control
One of the main points of complaint is the lack of control at the guardhouse located at the main access to the community.
According to residents, the site no longer has supervision in 2025, allowing vehicles and people without identification to enter and exit.
"As there is no longer a barrier, people who come from outside settle in the two access points we have to the water [dam] and make it impossible for us to take the boats down, as the ramps are designed for that purpose. They make it difficult, they fight, they threaten us, so it has become unsustainable. There is no point in calling the police, the police don't come, it doesn't solve anything. We have asked for police on weekends, at times when we have problems, and we don't have support. It started with small thefts and now they are moving to residential thefts, so things are becoming more serious”, says Luciana.
Currently, the community has 351 properties. Many of them, especially those belonging to the plant, are abandoned, a situation that also worries residents.
Wire theft causes inconvenience
In addition to home invasions, theft of electrical wires has become another problem for the population.
Vila do Estreito's energy supply depends exclusively on the structure of the Furnas Hydroelectric Plant. When cable thefts occur, repairs are complex and can take days.
In one of the incidents, residents spent four days without electricity.
Therapist Carla Maria de Carvalho Tambelini reports concerns about the lack of security, which was aggravated during the blackouts.
"It's completely insecure. There are many elderly people here who need equipment even for breathing. They had to be moved to other family members, because we don't have electricity. Now, when there is a problem with a transformer ten blocks away, they shut down the company as a whole to fix it, so everyone is left without electricity."
For traders, the situation also represents financial loss. Without electricity, establishments run the risk of losing products that need to be kept refrigerated.
This is the case of trader Janete Naria Cordeiro, who faces difficulties in keeping products sold in the market during supply interruptions.
"As is happening very frequently, we are losing bread, because we bake bread morning and afternoon, meat defrosts, chicken, everything that remains in the freezers. We have time to lose everything, it's a loss."
Resident since 1965 reports insecurity
Retired Olinto Silvestre Ferreira has known Vila do Estreito since its formation. He arrived in the community in 1965 and is considered the first resident of the place.
Over more than six decades, he followed the growth of the village and the changes in family routines. Now, he says he has never felt so insecure.
"Last week I left here and went to the farms and I counted 30 cars one after the other. Do what here, make a mess on the riverbank."
Residents' association appeals to court
Faced with the problems, the Residents' Association of Vila Residencial do Estreito decided to go to court in search of solutions.
According to the entity's president, Carlos Eduardo Garcia Moreno Balcarse, the association is facing difficulties in establishing dialogue with plant representatives about the community's demands.
"The notification not only aims to reactivate the guardhouse, but also for the company to provide the services while they are their responsibility. Water and electricity are their responsibility. We are constantly running out of energy due to theft. The barrier, the guardhouse, the security that the company provided for more than 50 years is more than fundamental and should be maintained at least as long as the reurbanization process is ongoing. Later, it will transfer this to the responsibility of the state, the city hall, then yes, things change figure. But until then, it should be maintained.”
The association hopes that the legal measure will contribute to the adoption of measures that restore peace of mind to the population.
