Sand theft: Difference between revisions
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A '''beach theft''', in the sense of "[[theft]] of [[beach]]", is an unauthorized and illegal removal of huge quantities of [[sand]] from a beach leading to the full or partial disappearance of the beach. |
A '''beach theft''', in the sense of "[[theft]] of [[beach]]", is an unauthorized and illegal removal of huge quantities of [[sand]] from a beach leading to the full or partial disappearance of the beach. |
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The term '''beach theft''', used in the sense of "theft in beach", denotes incidents of theft occurring in beaches. Occurrences of beach thefts in the former sense are rare and uncommon; incidents of beach thefts in the latter sense are frequent and common. This article is about beach thefts in the former sense. |
The term '''beach theft''', used in the sense of "[[theft]] in [[beach]]", denotes incidents of theft occurring in beaches. Occurrences of beach thefts in the former sense are rare and uncommon; incidents of beach thefts in the latter sense are frequent and common. This article is about beach thefts in the former sense. |
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==Sand theft and beach theft== |
==Sand theft and beach theft== |
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Stealing of sand is a worldwide phenomenon |
Stealing of [[sand]] is a worldwide phenomenon |
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(see, for example, <ref>"Hanson Denies Stealing Sand", ''Los Algeles Times'' dated 28 October 2003 [http://articles.latimes.com/2003/oct/28/business/fi-sand28] (Retrieved on 23 October 2008) </ref>, |
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<ref>"Stealing sand from Sahara", ''Western Sahara Resource Watch'' |
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[http://www.wsrw.org/index.php?art=665&cat=128&mto=0&searchString=aai%FAn&shw=3&sm=&stm=&sy=&page=1] (Retrieved on 23 October 2000) </ref>, |
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<ref> |
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"Sand thieves strike again", ''Voice of Malaysian'' dated 09 August 2008 |
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[http://voiceofmalaysian.com/2008/08/09/sand-thieves-strike-again/] (Retrieved on 23 October 2008) </ref>). But there are not many instances of large scale removal of sand leading to the virtual vanishing of entire stretches of a beach. |
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Two instances of beach thefts have been widely reported in the media: one in [[Hungary]] in 2007 and another in [[Jamaica]] in 2008. The beach that was stolen in Hungary was an artificially created one on the banks of a river. The other one is a genuine example of a beach theft. |
Two instances of beach thefts have been widely reported in the media: one in [[Hungary]] in 2007 and another in [[Jamaica]] in 2008. The beach that was stolen in Hungary was an artificially created one on the banks of a river. The other one is a genuine example of a beach theft. |
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==Beach theft in [[Jamaica]] == |
==Beach theft in [[Jamaica]] == |
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A beach theft was discovered in [[Jamaica]] in July 2008<ref>"Jamaica puzzled by theft of beach" ''BBC News'' dated 18 October 2008 |
A beach theft was discovered in [[Jamaica]] in July 2008<ref>"Jamaica puzzled by theft of beach", ''BBC News'' dated 18 October 2008 |
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[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7678379.stm] (Retrieved on 21 October 2008)</ref>. |
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7678379.stm] (Retrieved on 21 October 2008)</ref>. |
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===Investigation=== |
===Investigation=== |
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The disappearance of the beach was considered so important that the Prime Minister of Jamaica, [[Bruce Golding]], himself took an interest in the theft and ordered a report into how such a large quantity of sand was stolen, transported and presumably sold. |
The disappearance of the beach was considered so important that the Prime Minister of Jamaica, [[Bruce Golding]], himself took an interest in the theft and ordered a report into how such a large quantity of sand was stolen, transported and presumably sold. |
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Police are carrying out forensic tests on beaches along the coast to see if any of it matches the stolen sand. Even after three months of investigations, the police are clueless about the thieves. There were unconfirmed reports about collusion between the criminals and certain police officers even though police officials vehemently deny any such thing. |
Police are carrying out forensic tests on beaches along the coast to see if any of it matches the stolen sand. Even after three months of investigations, the police are clueless about the thieves. There were unconfirmed reports about collusion between the criminals and certain police officers even though police officials vehemently deny any such thing. |
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==Beach theft in [[Hungary]]== |
==Beach theft in [[Hungary]]== |
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An incident of beach theft occurred in Hungary in [[2007]] <ref>"HOWTO: Steal a Beach (Hungarian Style)" [http://www.today.com/external.php?url=http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Jaunted/~3/206533450/257&reffurl=http://www.today.com/view/mindszentas-howto-steal-a-beach-hungarian-style/id-1397987/] (Retrieved on 21 October 2008)</ref>. |
An incident of beach theft occurred in Hungary in [[2007]] <ref>"HOWTO: Steal a Beach (Hungarian Style)" [http://www.today.com/external.php?url=http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Jaunted/~3/206533450/257&reffurl=http://www.today.com/view/mindszentas-howto-steal-a-beach-hungarian-style/id-1397987/] (Retrieved on 21 October 2008)</ref>. |
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In this case, thieves stole hundreds of tonnes of sand from an artificial beach created by a resort alongside the banks of river Mindszentas |
In this case, thieves stole hundreds of tonnes of sand from an artificial beach created by a resort alongside the banks of river Mindszentas. |
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<ref>"Jamaican police left stranded after thieves steal a beach", ''The Guardian'' dated 21 October 2008 [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/21/jamaica] (Retrieved on 2 October 2008) </ref> |
<ref>"Jamaican police left stranded after thieves steal a beach", ''The Guardian'' dated 21 October 2008 [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/21/jamaica] (Retrieved on 2 October 2008) </ref> |
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[[Hungary]] is a land-locked country. The river Mindszentas runs through [[Hungary]]. Its banks are sunny and warm in the summer. Some enterprising Hungarians shipped in some 6,000 cubic meters of sand, added lounge chairs, playground rides, and beach huts, and made a perfect artificial beach. |
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In Hungary, the winters are frigid. To protect their sandy treasure, in September, the owners covered the rides with tarpaulin and closed the place for the season. When one of the owners drove by, they noticed that the beach was gone. Only dreary muddy banks left behind. |
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Authorities blame the new Schengen Zone which eliminated border controls between EU member state and Europe. This allows people to move freely between countries without a passport. |
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==References == |
==References == |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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Revision as of 07:29, 23 October 2008
A beach theft, in the sense of "theft of beach", is an unauthorized and illegal removal of huge quantities of sand from a beach leading to the full or partial disappearance of the beach. The term beach theft, used in the sense of "theft in beach", denotes incidents of theft occurring in beaches. Occurrences of beach thefts in the former sense are rare and uncommon; incidents of beach thefts in the latter sense are frequent and common. This article is about beach thefts in the former sense.
Sand theft and beach theft
Stealing of sand is a worldwide phenomenon (see, for example, [1], [2], [3]). But there are not many instances of large scale removal of sand leading to the virtual vanishing of entire stretches of a beach. Two instances of beach thefts have been widely reported in the media: one in Hungary in 2007 and another in Jamaica in 2008. The beach that was stolen in Hungary was an artificially created one on the banks of a river. The other one is a genuine example of a beach theft.
Beach theft in Jamaica
A beach theft was discovered in Jamaica in July 2008[4].
The beach at Coral Springs, in Jamaica's northern parish of Trelawny, was 400 metres of white sand. The bulk of the sand in the 0.5-hectare beach, of approximately 500 truckloads, was found missing in July 2008. The beach was to form part a resort complex, but the theft of its most important feature has led to its developers putting their plans on hold. Illegal sand mining is a problem in Jamaica; the tradition of people building their own homes here means there is a huge demand for the construction material.
Investigation
The disappearance of the beach was considered so important that the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Bruce Golding, himself took an interest in the theft and ordered a report into how such a large quantity of sand was stolen, transported and presumably sold. Police are carrying out forensic tests on beaches along the coast to see if any of it matches the stolen sand. Even after three months of investigations, the police are clueless about the thieves. There were unconfirmed reports about collusion between the criminals and certain police officers even though police officials vehemently deny any such thing.
Beach theft in Hungary
An incident of beach theft occurred in Hungary in 2007 [5]. In this case, thieves stole hundreds of tonnes of sand from an artificial beach created by a resort alongside the banks of river Mindszentas. [6]
Hungary is a land-locked country. The river Mindszentas runs through Hungary. Its banks are sunny and warm in the summer. Some enterprising Hungarians shipped in some 6,000 cubic meters of sand, added lounge chairs, playground rides, and beach huts, and made a perfect artificial beach. In Hungary, the winters are frigid. To protect their sandy treasure, in September, the owners covered the rides with tarpaulin and closed the place for the season. When one of the owners drove by, they noticed that the beach was gone. Only dreary muddy banks left behind. Authorities blame the new Schengen Zone which eliminated border controls between EU member state and Europe. This allows people to move freely between countries without a passport.
References
- ^ "Hanson Denies Stealing Sand", Los Algeles Times dated 28 October 2003 [1] (Retrieved on 23 October 2008)
- ^ "Stealing sand from Sahara", Western Sahara Resource Watch [2] (Retrieved on 23 October 2000)
- ^ "Sand thieves strike again", Voice of Malaysian dated 09 August 2008 [3] (Retrieved on 23 October 2008)
- ^ "Jamaica puzzled by theft of beach", BBC News dated 18 October 2008 [4] (Retrieved on 21 October 2008)
- ^ "HOWTO: Steal a Beach (Hungarian Style)" [5] (Retrieved on 21 October 2008)
- ^ "Jamaican police left stranded after thieves steal a beach", The Guardian dated 21 October 2008 [6] (Retrieved on 2 October 2008)