Kathmandu, January 13:

After the Nepal Electricity Authority announced 36-hour a week power cuts, department stores in Kathmandu fear incidents of shoplifting may take place during load shedding hours.

Roshan Adhikari, officer at the Saleways Department Store, Lalitpur, said, “We have no problem in using generator during the power outage, but incidents of shoplifting could occur when we are busy in starting generator.” He said despite having closed circuit television camera, theft can occur in darkness. Keshab Khakurel, manager at the Bhatbhateni Department Store, said theft could occur before generator starts working automatically. Other department stores in the Valley also have been confronting with this problem.