A 34-year-old electrician was sentenced to one year in prison after pleading guilty to stealing street lights from the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Young Professional Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara.
The incident was reported during an outreach held by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, and the Central Housing and Planning Authority on September 24, 2024.Residents informed authorities of the missing street lights, prompting an investigation by the Police.
Sharmo Jones, an electrician from Plaisance Squatting Area, was arrested on September 26, following intelligence gathered by law enforcement.
Jones admitted to the theft and was found to have installed the stolen street lights in various locations. Police recovered 24 of the stolen lights during the operation.Jones appeared before Magistrate A. Gibbs at the Sparendaam Magistrate Court on September 27, where he was charged with Simple Larceny under Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01. He pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to one year in prison.
