Bucharest’s public transport company RATB lost more than RON 934,000 (some EUR 210,000) last year due to acts of vandalism. This is equal to 718,000 paid rides, as the price of a bus or tram ride in Bucharest is just RON 1.3 (EUR 0.29).

However, the losses were 25% lower than the ones registered the year before.

The company recorded 931 acts of vandalism in 2015, down from 1,077 the year before. The drop comes as a result of RATB’s collaboration with the Transport Police and the Gendarmerie, which will continue this year, according to an official RATB statement.

The biggest losses, of over RON 685,000 (some EUR 155,000), were recorded on the buses. However, the value was 27% lower than the one posted in the previous year. There were 269 acts of vandalism committed on buses last year, down from 304 in 2014, and mainly involved breaking windshields and windows.

The bus garages in Ferentari, Titan, and Pipera registered the biggest losses last year, according to RATB. Moreover, most acts of vandalism took place on Calea Ferentarilor, Oltenitei Avenue, Calea Dorobantilor, Luica Street, Iuliu Maniu Blvd., Turnu Magurele street, Amurgului street, Splaiul Independentei, Zetarilor Terminal, Prelungirea Ghencea, and Calea Vacaresti.

When it comes to what buses got vandalized the most, these include those traveling on the lines 116 (12 cases of vandalism), 104 and 202 (11 cases each), 335 and 381 (nine cases each), 141 (eight cases), 139 and 330 (six cases each), 101, 102, 117, 133, 336 and 655 (five cases each), and 123, 112, 178, 226, 232 and 331 (four cases each).

The trolleybuses and trams have recorded losses of over RON 82,500 (some EUR 18,500) last year, due to acts of vandalism. The value dropped by almost half when compared to the one registered in 2014, although the number of cases decreased by only 21% (from 141 in 2014 to 112 in 2015). Most of the damages came from breaking windows and windshields, as well as from destroying the validators of the Automatic Taxation System.

The trams traveling on the lines 11, 41, 32, 1, 25, 45, 10, 24, 47, and 16 were the most vandalized, as well as the trolleybuses running on the lines 65, 62, 66, 69 and 86.

RATB has installed video cameras in buses and trolleybuses to discourage the thieves and the people who try to destroy the inside of the vehicles.

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Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com