An official at the Zamboanga City airport in southern Philippines is seeking the help of police and junk shop owners in recovering 19 landing light transformers stolen from the airport, the Sun.Star Zamboanga reported on Thursday.

Celso Bayabos, the manager of the Air Transportation Office in Zamboanga City, said his staff found out that the transformers, which are used to light the approach of runway 27, were missing during an inspection on Friday.

The theft of the imported transformers, each costing $437, was immediately reported to the police.

Bayabos suspects that thieves will sell the transformers to junk shops. So he appealed to the owners of junk shops to report to the police or his office whoever will sell them light transformers.

Without the transformers, the approach landing lights will not function. The lights guide pilots in landing planes in the airport during nighttime or bad weather.