Power utility CEM said in a statement yesterday that it has reported a suspected case of electricity theft that caused a fire to the police.
According to the statement, CEM was notified by the Fire Services Bureau (CB) about an electric wire that had caught fire in an old residential building in Rua Nove do Bairro Iao Hon on Friday night.
CEM staff who were dispatched to the scene to investigate discovered that a household in the building had illegally connected the collective line beside the meter box to their flat, resulting in current overload and the ensuing fire.
CEM urged residents not to connect wires by themselves or to tamper with the meters as this endangers their personal safety and property, aside from possibly incurring criminal liability.
The company stressed that its staff inspect buildings’ power supply installations regularly and that any suspected illegal use of electricity is reported to the police.
CEM urged residents to report any power consumption abnormalities, such as suspected electricity theft, by calling 2833 9911.
