More than meets the eye: ‘Mepco’ robbers steal two transformers

Locals said the men claimed they were repairing the power lines.

MUZAFFARGARH:

Robbers stole two electricity transformers in the Shah Jamal sub-division on Friday.  According to police officials, two large transformers installed at Hassanpur Tarrand and Hamlet Khokhar were stolen on Friday night and electricity in the neighbouring streets remained powered off for most of Saturday morning.

Locals in the area said that the men had told them they were repairing the transformers. “There were at least seven people and they were wearing company uniforms,” said Tarrand resident Haji Shehryar. Shah Jamal police officials have registered cases against the unidentified thieves, who were clad in Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) uniforms.

Police officials said that the criminals had previously taken a transformer from a neighbouring district and that locals had been told they were only repairing power lines. Mepco officials said that they would pursue the case internally as well.

“If they were wearing company uniforms then these must have been supplied by an employee,” said Mepco official, Rahman Sabir.

Sabir said that new transformers were being installed in the areas, as residents had been without any electricity for over 18 hours. Mepco officials said that the robbers were obviously trained engineers or mechanics.

“It is not so easy to dismantle such a large transformer without any training,” Sabir said. Police officials are searching for the criminals.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2011.