The primary reason for thefts in the agro-industrial complex (AIC) is the extremely poor organisation of security for these facilities. In a number of agricultural organisations, no security is provided. There is a lack of proper management oversight of the work of security guards and the selection of candidates for positions of material responsibility.
The issue of equipping agricultural organisation premises with locking devices, as well as ensuring facilities and adjacent territories have adequate lighting, is acute. This should prevent criminals from gaining free access to the sites of offences.
Facts of theft of goods and materials entail both criminal and administrative liability, depending on the amount of damage caused. For criminal offences, liability is provided in the form of community service, a fine, correctional labour for up to two years, or arrest, or restriction of liberty for up to three years, or imprisonment for the same period.
During the sowing and the commencement of the harvesting and procurement campaigns of 2023 in the Lepel district, 10 instances of theft of goods and materials from AIC facilities were identified. Those found guilty have been brought to administrative responsibility under Article 11.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus (Petty Theft).
The theft of fuel and lubricants is an important issue. It should be noted that Article 13.23 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus (Illegal circulation of petroleum liquid fuel in the Republic of Belarus), specifically Part 3 of Article 13.23 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus, provides for administrative liability for the acquisition, storage, use, or sale to individuals of dyed petroleum fuel supplied in the prescribed manner to organisations engaged in work related to the production of agricultural products, in the form of a fine ranging from 10 to 50 base units.
With the aim of preventing property theft in agricultural organisations, preventing offences and crimes, strengthening labour and transport discipline, and preventing drunkenness and alcoholism, internal affairs officers conduct checks of security guards and monitor AIC facilities in the evening and at night in conjunction with prevention entities.