SHELDON WILLIAMS, Staff Reporter

Tenants of an apartment complex in the Corporate Area, who were reportedly abstracting electricity for an extended period, had their illegal connections disconnected yesterday much to the delight of some of their neighbours who were frustrated at the illegal act.

THE STAR understands that some tenants of the complex had been tampering with their meters on the premises much to the disgust of other tenants who say they have been receiving hefty electricity bills because of the offence.

One exasperated occupant explained that the building almost caught ablaze while the meters were being tampered with.

"Dem a bridge ... dem nearly burn it down.The meter burst ... Dem pull off the meter and a bridge it and it light fire and dem run left it," he explained.

When THE STAR quizzed 'legitimate' occupants if they spoke out against the illegal act with those who were doing it, we were told that their pleas fell on deaf ears.

"We talk to dem bout it,but them no pay we no mind.The people dem weh bridge the light no have nothing inna fi dem place fi burn up," one occupant expressed.

At the same time, another occupant who appeared upset explained that they were forced to pay hefty electricity bills because of the theft of energy by a few culprits.

" Right now I have a bill for $9,000 and I don't have no washing machine nor air condition nor nothing," he remarked.

In response to the complaints of the legitimised residents, the JPS had sent a release to THE STAR confirming that action was taken forthwith.

The release stated that "a JPS strike force team carried out an operation today (yesterday), at the location in question, and did in fact find evidence of irregularities."

It was also stated that, "standard procedures and recovery action were carried out ... The company believes that the residents at this location should find their environment to be a much safer one now. JPS also wishes to underscore the importance of vigilance in the community to prevent the reoccurrence of these unacceptable practices".