LAHORE: The Lahore Electric Supply Company has uncovered a sophisticated electricity theft operation involving the use of remote-control devices to tamper with electric meters and illegally consume power.
According to LESCO officials, the operation was carried out in the Sui Gas Road area of Shahdara under the supervision of Northern Circle Superintending Engineer Muhammad Muzammil. A joint team comprising the Jia Musa Sub-Division surveillance unit, the Metering & Testing (M&T) team, and local police conducted a raid on an industrial electricity connection.
During the inspection, authorities found that suspects Hamid Raza and Ramzan were allegedly using remote-control devices to manipulate electricity meters, resulting in illegal power consumption. Officials estimated the loss to the utility at around Rs6.5 million.
Both suspects were arrested on the spot, and legal proceedings have been initiated. Authorities also seized electrical cables, meters, and a transformer from the premises.
In a separate set of operations, LESCO’s eastern circle teams detected additional cases of electricity theft involving industrial units, tube wells, and fake meters across different areas.
During another raid in the Shalimar Division, a checking team accompanied by the SDO Sahafi Colony uncovered electricity theft at a hanger manufacturing factory in Tuls Pura, where a direct supply connection was being used illegally. The connection was immediately disconnected, and a detection bill was issued to the consumer.
Officials also identified a fake meter operating on a 12.5-ampere load within a private housing society, along with another case of direct theft involving a 9.3-ampere load.
In yet another operation, a tube well fitted with a 25 KVA transformer was found operating beyond its approved load capacity. The investigation revealed multiple illegal direct connections with running loads of 32, 30, and 31 amperes.
All illegal connections were disconnected on the spot, and detection bills were issued in accordance with regulations, LESCO officials confirmed.
