A 42-year-old man has appeared in court in connection with the theft of WASA pipes valued at $189,000.
The charge of receiving stolen goods was laid by a Sergeant attached to the WASA Police Unit, with the accused granted $240,000 bail.
The matter was then adjourned to the First Court, Chaguanas, on June 22nd 2026.
WASA says the case is part of a broader enforcement initiative being led by its Police Unit in response to recent incidents affecting facilities across the country.
“WASA views attacks on its infrastructure as attacks on the essential services relied upon by citizens every day. As such, the Authority has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to vandalism, theft and the illegal possession of WASA property,” it says.
Investigations are ongoing into several matters, including the recent vandalism of Tamana Well No. 1, which occurred between June 13th and 14th, 2026.
WASA reminds that vandalism of public property is a criminal offence, saying “Section 25 of the Summary Offences Act (Chap. 11:02) and Section 45 of the Malicious Damage Act (Chap. 11:06) stipulate that any person who willfully or maliciously damages public property is liable to penalties upon conviction, including fines and imprisonment.”
The also warns that individuals involved in the theft, vandalism, purchase, possession, transportation, or concealment of stolen WASA assets will be identified, investigated and brought before the courts.
To strengthen its response, WASA says it is increasing surveillance at vulnerable facilities, expanding security operations, deploying enhanced monitoring measures, and working closely with law enforcement agencies to detect and disrupt criminal activity targeting public infrastructure.
It is also calling on scrap dealers, contractors, transport operators, and members of the public to exercise vigilance and report any suspicious activity involving WASA assets.
“Every stolen pipe, damaged installation, or compromised facility threatens the reliability of water and wastewater services and places an unnecessary financial burden on the national community. These are not victimless crimes, and WASA will continue to pursue all available legal avenues to hold offenders accountable,” says the Authority.
