Cable theft suspects arrested

The Copperheads’ biggest metal bust this year has netted a man who allegedly stole about 100kg of city-owned cabling.

The man works for a sub-contractor who installs electricity connections for the City of Cape Town’s low-cost housing projects.

The 34-year old suspect was one of four people arrested yesterday morning at a major scrap dealership in Elsies River.

They were nabbed by the city’s Metal Theft Unit, also known as the Copperheads, at the dealership.

Two of the men allegedly sold 96kg of stolen cables used to electrify homes on Monday and yesterday.

In a separate incident, two other men were found in possession of five drain covers yesterday.

But the owner of the dealership said the allegations were unfounded. He also denounced the city’s claims that his business had bought stolen goods.

Neil Arendse, assistant chief of the city’s law enforcement specialised services, said the Metal Theft Unit received a tip-off on Monday that stolen cable had been sold to the scrap dealer and secured a search warrant from the police.

Arendse said the informant described the vehicle which was used to transport the goods. When officers arrived on the scene yesterday, they found the occupants of the same vehicle selling more cables, also allegedly stolen.

The 34-year-old man was arrested with a 28-year-old man from Delft, both on charges of theft.

Arendse said the 34-year-old man had allegedly sold 70kg of cable for about R4 000 on Monday and 20kg of cable for R1 100 yesterday.

“The suspect is working for a sub-contractor who is involved in lighting for low-cost housing projects.”

Arendse said, based on this link, it was suspected that the stolen cable belonged to the city.

He added that there had been previous instances in which sub-contractors for the city attempted to sell stolen cables.

Normally cable thieves removed the insulation around the cable, so it was not possible to trace its owners.

The unit recovers about two tons of stolen cable annually, which Arendse said saved the city about R1 million a year.

The officers also arrested two men from Elsies River who were attempting to sell five drain covers. They were charged with possession of stolen property.

However, the dealership’s owner denied that his business had bought the stolen goods.

“This is not the first time I have been through such an ordeal, where they come with unnecessary search warrants. The goods (we have bought) are most definitely not stolen, that is complete rubbish. These are unfounded, unsubstantiated allegations. And my attorney and advocate are now involved.”

He was adamant that his business complied with all the regulations of the Second Hand Goods Act.

Arendse appealed to scrap dealers to ensure that goods presented to them were not stolen.

“We ask that they think about where and how the person selling the goods could have obtained them.”

He said all city property, including drain covers, copper cable and road signs, were only sold through the city’s tender processes and should not be bought from individuals attempting to sell them.

bronwynne.jooste@inl.co.za – Cape Argus