Electricity meter theft on rise

Farmers and traders of Akkelpur upazila in Joypurhat have been passing sleepless nights guarding against theft of electric meters and transformers.

Three transformers and 20 meters were stolen in the last eight days. The thieves return the equipment if the owners give them money through mobile phone, locals said.

“The thieves leave a chit with a phone number. If a victim of theft pays the money through mobile phone, the thieves return the stolen equipment,” said Shafiqul Islam of Gopinathpur village. Thieves stole his power meter and are yet to return it.

Upazila Palli Bidyut Samity General Manager Yakub Ali said incidents of meter stealing in his area have gone up in recent months. Each 3-phase meter costs about Tk 25,000, while a single-phase meter costs about Tk 1,400. Thieves usually steal 3-phase meters for the higher price, he added.

Many people have got back their stolen meters after paying the demanded money, said a police official of Akkelpur Police Station, without giving his name. “The thieves threaten to steal the meter again if anyone discloses the incident,” he added.

The thefts are a big worry for the farmers at a time when they are gearing up for the boro season as they use 3-phase meters to operate deep tube-wells for irrigation.

Farmer Abbas Ali of Gopitnathpur village said the government introduced biometric SIM registration to track criminals who demand and receive money over mobile phone, but the police have not been able to trace the criminals in the last one month.

In Panchibibi upazila, thieves stole five meters last November, which were returned to the owners on payment of the demanded amount.