A former water supply employee who meticulously removed and sold water meters from several government official residences and private homes in Anuradhapura city for money has been arrested with a stock of water meters worth more than 100,000 rupees, according to the Unsolved Crimes Investigation Unit of the Anuradhapura Headquarters Police.
The person arrested is a 30-year-old resident of the 50th post area in Mihintale.
The suspect who was arrested was previously working for the Water Supply Board but was dismissed from his job due to severe drug addiction. He removed the water meters and provided a direct connection, so the residents were not aware that the water meter was missing.
The police said that the suspect was arrested after investigating the complaints received after the water meter reader came to the homes to issue the water bill and informed the residents that there was no water meter.
During interrogation of the arrested suspect, the police said that the suspect had stolen water meters from houses belonging to the District Secretariat, the Water Supply Board and the Anuradhapura Hospital.
The police also said that 23 water meters were found in the suspect’s possession when he was arrested.
The police also said that the suspect is suspected of having dismantled these water meters and sold them at scrap metal shops for a low price and used the money to buy drugs.