Separate police operations conducted in Gisagara and Nyamasheke districts led to the arrest of two people and recovery of 138 metres of electric cables vandalized and stolen from different homes.
The electric cables were connecting the affected homes to the national grid.
One of the suspects, aged 42, arrested in Gisagara District, Kigembe Sector Rusagara Cell in Akatera Village; was found in possession of 121 metres of electric cables, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Emmanuel Habiyaremye, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region.
“A young brother to the suspect reported the theft of his valuables from the house, and his elder brother was the prime suspect.
Indeed, during the search, Police recovered the stolen items from the house of the prime suspect, where 121 metres of electric cables were also recovered,” SP Habiyaremye said.
Another 27-year-old male suspect was arrested in Nyamasheke District, Mahembe Sector following a phone call from the residents about a man, who was vandalizing and stealing electric cables from houses.
He was apprehended red-handed at about 02a.m, after cutting and stealing 17 metres from houses.
Rwanda National Police has strengthened operations targeting people, who vandalize power lines and those who steal electrical cables.
The force appeals to anyone with information on people engaged in theft or vandalism of public infrastructure to come forward to support the ongoing efforts.
Article 182 of the law determining offences and penalties states that any person, who maliciously demolishes or damages in any way, in whole or in part of construction, building, bridge, dams, water pipes and their routes, railway rails or any other means of communication or electric power infrastructure, wells or any other constructions which do not belong to him/her, commits an offence.
Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than three years and not more than five years with a fine of not less than Frw3 million and not more than Frw5 million. (End)