The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) renewed its warning against the theft of electrical equipment after a suspected cable thief was critically injured and thousands of customers lost power over the weekend.

This comes after a 37-year-old man attempted to steal power cables around 3 a.m. Sunday in Quezon City. The incident triggered a “flashover,” causing the suspect to sustain severe burns and fall from a tree. He was transported to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

The attempted theft disrupted electricity for nearly 8,000 customers. Meralco crews restored service by 7 a.m. after repairing the damaged lines.

Froilan J. Savet, Meralco senior vice president and head of networks, said the incident underscores the life-threatening risks of tampering with high-voltage infrastructure.

“Beyond service disruptions, such acts expose individuals to life-threatening risks due to the high voltage carried by power cables,” Savet said in a statement.

Meralco reminded the public that wire theft is a criminal offense under Republic Act 7832, the Anti-Electricity Pilferage Act. Conviction carries penalties including fines and imprisonment.

The company urged residents to report suspicious activity involving its facilities via its hotline, mobile app, or official social media channels.