Thieves Cart-away With Transformer Breakers at Goderich

Thieves carted away with circuit breakers of a transformer at Goderich village in the Western Rural District of Sierra Leone following last night’s downpour.

This revelation surfaced on social media through a video posted anonymously on Sunday morning.

“These incidents only occur during the rains,” said one of the recorders of the said video. Another voice suggested that they get security for the transformer once the breakers have been replaced.

Circuit breakers for transformer protection are specially designed to protect control transformers on the primary side fuseless against overloads and short-circuits. In addition, the device allows manual connection and disconnection of the transformer from the mains.

Thieves, over the years, stole breakers to make use of the contacts which are made up of coppers.

Although police have made significant efforts in curbing this menace, it is still prevalent in the east of the capital Freetown and the Western Rural District especially during the rains. In some communities in the past, elders set up vigilante groups who work with local police to apprehend such thieves but that has waned down over the years.

When incidents like such occur, it will take the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) weeks before they are replaced thereby leaving communities relying on the transformer for electricity in darkness.