Published on: Friday, June 05, 2009 |
Its enforcement unit saw hundreds of metres of illegal wires being seized during a three-day operation from Tuesday.
The exercises were carried out at Kampung Lokub, Padas, Delima, Suang Parai, Kuala Penampang, Bukit Nenas, Baru, Kopungit, Meruntum, Jalan Menteri, Sarigai, Matabian, Taman Bukit Permai and City Hall's former quarters.
A spokesman said the operations which were conducted with the Energy Commission, SESB and auxiliary police involved about 20 personnel.
He said the culprits' modus operandi is similar in that the wires were either connected to sub-stations, panel boxes, electricity poles or electric wires.
He said dismantling illegal connections was like playing hide-and-seek with the perpetrators.
"The SESB monitors and disconnects illegal connections but it (the cycle) would be repeated," he said. In most cases, the illegal connections would be re-attached the same day by the same people.
It is frustrating because the culprits have no regard for the losses incurred by the SESB and the inconvenience caused to paying consumers.
Last year, pylon thefts caused a statewide blackout that disrupted businesses and created a lot of problems for the people.
Power theft in squatter colonies entails electricity being "regulated" by a houseowner who charges a flat rate on other squatters who request that power be connected to their dwellings from his house which acts as a base.
The SESB spokesman hoped the public would continue to provide tip offs on illegal connections. "Illegal connection of power is not only dangerous but also could lead to death if the person were to be electrocuted," he said.
In the past, there were several incidents where power thieves were electrocuted.
He said stealing electricity is a crime under Section 37 of the Power Electricity Act 1990 which provides for a penalty of RM100,000 or three years' jail term or both.
