Thieves carted off more than $1.6 million in copper cable from the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, leaving part of the bridge’s decorative lighting system out of operation.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) said the alleged theft involved 90 feet of 4/350 KCMIL copper cable from the Bridge. The stolen cable is valued at approximately $1,620,000.
Police said the theft occurred sometime between midnight on August 23, 2026, and 09:00hrs on September 1, 2026.
According to investigators, the bridge is fitted with LED lights attached to steel poles along its high span. The lights are powered by a generator beneath the bridge and are used to display different colours.
The system was last operated on August 23. At about 18:30hrs on August 31, an electrical maintenance engineer attempted to illuminate the bridge in the colours of Trinidad and Tobago’s national flag in observance of that country’s Independence Anniversary.
However, only the lights on the northern side of the bridge were working. The following morning, at about 09:00hrs, the engineer and his team inspected the southern side of the bridge and discovered that copper cables had been cut and removed from the metal trunking box.
The matter was reported to the Providence Police Station at about 09:30hrs, and detectives later visited the scene.
Police said the scene was photographed and processed. Police are reviewing CCTV footage as the investigation continues.
