Lahore police intensify crackdown on power theft

Lahore police intensify crackdown on power theft

LAHORE: Lahore Police have intensified their campaign against electricity theft, arresting more than 10,000 suspects in operations carried out across the provincial capital so far this year. The large-scale crackdown aims to curb power theft, reduce financial losses, and strengthen enforcement against illegal electricity use.

According to Lahore Police, authorities have also registered over 9,000 criminal cases against individuals allegedly involved in stealing electricity through various illegal methods. Police teams continue to conduct raids in different parts of the city in coordination with the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO).

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana said electricity theft places a heavy financial burden on the national economy and affects honest consumers who pay their utility bills regularly. He made it clear that law enforcement agencies would not show leniency to anyone involved in activities that cause losses to the public exchequer.

The joint police and LESCO teams are targeting illegal electricity connections, meter tampering, direct hooking, and other techniques used to bypass billing systems. Officials believe these coordinated operations have significantly strengthened efforts to identify offenders and discourage power theft.

The CCPO directed police officers to further improve coordination with LESCO officials to ensure more effective operations and faster action against offenders. He also instructed field teams to identify and dismantle networks involved in manufacturing, supplying, and distributing devices used to manipulate electricity meters and facilitate illegal power consumption.

In addition, Bilal Siddique Kamyana ordered investigators to speed up inquiries into registered cases and ensure that those responsible face legal proceedings without unnecessary delays. He stressed that consistent enforcement remains essential to protecting public resources and maintaining the integrity of the electricity distribution system.

Police officials reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the anti-power theft drive across Lahore, saying operations will remain underway until those involved in electricity theft and related illegal activities are brought to justice. Authorities also urged citizens to cooperate with law enforcement and report suspected cases of power theft in their neighborhoods.