The document, jointly issued by the SPC, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), aims to clarify the application of criminal law to such offenses, the SPC source said in a press release.

According to the document, any form of destruction to the oil and gas pipes forexample, opening, smashing or dismantling with the intention of stealing oil and gas, will be considered compromising public security.

Encouraging others to commit these offenses will also be considered prime culprits, while low-ranking employees of oil and gas firms who help criminals approach such facilities will be deemed accomplices.

The statement issued by MPs in July indicate oil and gas thieves were mostly subject to administrative fines rather than criminal penalties, which served little deterrence.

An increasing number of oil and gas thefts have been committed by cross-regional, well-organized underground syndicates, the ministry said.