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Powering Health

Electrification Options for Developing Country Health Facilities

Theft Prevention

Rows of batteries stored securely in a locked cage.

The PEPFAR provided inverter at Immaculee Conception Hospital in Haiti was not functioning because the battery cables had been stolen. Smaller mesh on the battery cage would deter future theft. (Photo: Jeff Haeni)

High value technology in developing countries is an automatic target for theft. Several techniques have proven effective in mitigating the likelihood of system theft including full-time guards, anti-theft mounting systems and cages, and proper system maintenance.

Strategies for reducing theft of equipment, especially solar panels include:

Theft Prevention in Haiti

Solar systems have historically been susceptible to pilfering and theft has been cited as a reason for failure of several past solar installations in Haiti.

Proper installation of a solar system is one effective strategy to reduce theft. Tamper free mounting systems are often used which complicate removal of the system. Solengy, a solar company in Haiti, has designed a PV array mounting bracket which prevents the removal of individual panels, greatly complicating theft.

The timely maintenance of solar systems is also an important deterrent to theft. Local stakeholders who benefit from the system’s operation will be much more likely to protect the assets against removal.

Perhaps the most effective strategy for reducing theft is to establish a sense of local ownership. Experience has demonstrated that if a local stakeholder feels personally responsible for the operation of the system – either because of a financial incentive or because of its perceived value to the community – the likelihood of theft decreases significantly. Many of the facility managers who had successful solar installations in Haiti claimed that theft was not an issue because everyone in the community realized the benefit of a functioning health facility and no one in the community would dare jeopardize the facility’s operation by stealing the solar panel.

Several stakeholders indicated that the location of the facility was also a critical factor in determining the likelihood of the solar panels to be stolen. It was reported that systems installed in larger cities, such as Les Cayes, Port au Prince, and Cap Haitien had experienced significant challenges with theft, while systems in smaller communities had not.