30 Streetlight Control Boxes Stolen, Several Roads in Tangsel Plunged into Darkness, Transportation Agency Loses Rp50 Million
Tangsellife.com - The theft of public street lighting (PJU) facilities has once again become a concern in South Tangerang City (Tangsel). In the past year, as many as 30 PJU panel boxes have been reported stolen, causing a number of main roads to experience lighting disruptions and darkness at night.
The South Tangerang Transportation Agency (Dishub) noted that these thefts not only cause material losses but also impact the safety and comfort of the public passing through several road sections.
Five Road Sections Affected by Missing PJU Panels
The Head of the South Tangerang City Transportation Agency, Ayep Jajat Sudrajat, said that the disappearance of the electrical panels prevents the streetlights on several road sections from operating normally.
"There are five road sections affected because five panels are missing," said Ayep in Serpong on Friday (26/6/2026).
Some of the affected road sections experiencing lighting disruptions include:
- Jalan Raya Ciater, Serpong
- Jalan Raya Maruga
- Jalan Aria Putra, Ciputat
This situation leaves parts of these roads with minimal lighting at night and is considered to have the potential to increase the risk of accidents and criminal activities.
Perpetrators Target Electrical Components with Resale Value
According to Ayep, the perpetrators not only took the panel boxes but also dismantled various electrical components inside them.
Components targeted for theft include:
- KWh meters
- Photocell sensors
- Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs)
- Other electrical devices
Over the past year, Dishub Tangsel estimates the losses due to these thefts to be around Rp50 million.
"In this past year, about 30 panel boxes have gone missing. The losses are approximately Rp50 million," he said.
In addition to panel boxes, Dishub has also found cases of underground electrical cable theft used for the PJU network.
The latest case occurred in the area of Jalan Raya Serpong towards Granada–Nusaloka, where a section of buried cable was reported missing.
Dishub Strengthens Panel Security System
To curb the recurring thefts, Dishub Tangsel has begun implementing several additional security measures.
One of these measures is marking the panels with special paint and scratches to make the stolen goods more difficult to resell.
"We have scratched them, we have spray-painted them so they can't be sold. But they are still stolen," said Ayep.
Furthermore, Dishub plans to strengthen the panel protective casing by using thicker plates and replacing the locking system to make it harder for perpetrators to break in.
"We will thicken the plates. We will also change the locks to a more secure model. We are continuously striving to prevent them from being easily stolen," he concluded.
PJU Theft Disrupts Road User Comfort
Dishub hopes that the security efforts undertaken will reduce the number of PJU facility thefts. The public is also urged to play a role by promptly reporting any suspicious activity around PJU installations to minimize damage and lighting disruptions.
