THE NUMBER of persons arrested and charged for connecting to the Jamaica Public Service Company's (JPS) power grid since the start of the year, jumped to 140 last week with the arrest of 23 persons during operations carried out in St. Catherine, Clarendon, Hanover and St. Andrew.
The arrests were made during joint operations between the Revenue Protection Department (RPD) of JPS and officers from the Mobile Reserve, which also resulted in 2,459 illegal connections being removed. This brings the number of illegal connections removed since the start of the year to 16,247.
George Kates, general manager of Asset Protection of JPS, indicated that last week's operations were successful and said, "The team is committed to the task of ridding the island of illegal connections and we are advising those who continue to commit this offence to cease the practice and become legitimate customers."
In its efforts to rid the island of illegal connections JPS conducts ongoing operations where illegal wires are removed from its power lines. This is complemented by public awareness programmes and a community relations programme which encourages legality through conditional contracts.
Members of the public are being advised that the theft of electricity is a criminal offence, which carries fines ranging from $7,000 to $100,000 and is liable under law for imprisonment of up to five years.
The operations last week was carried out in the communities of Four Paths and Osbourne Store in Clarendon, Fraser's Content, Lakes Pen, Windsor Heights, Central Village and Succaba Pen in St. Catherine, Montpelier in Hanover, and Harbour View and Bull Bay in St. Andrew.
