Cops bust cable thieves and scrapyard owner

Cape Town – SA Police Services (SAPS) officers have busted suspected cable thieves and a scrapyard owner in a sting operation, Johannesburg City Power said on Thursday.

The suspects were arrested by the police and City Power officials following a tip off by members of the public.

The suspects were busted while trying to sell electricity cables that were stolen at a bridge in Klipspruit West, Soweto.

The scrapyard has been closed for trading in stolen copper.

“We are pleased with the progress we are making in the war against cable theft and we wish to thank members of the community for working with us and providing much-needed intelligence to curb the scourge of cable theft,” managing director of City Power Sicelo Xulu said in a statement.

The suspects were arrested in Booysens, Pretoria.

The suspects and the scrapyard owner will appear before court this week on charges of theft and possession of stolen property.

Cable theft is conservatively estimated to cost the South African economy about R5bn a year directly and indirectly, according to City Power.

Xulu said that besides the cost of replacing the infrastructure and damaged equipment, cable theft contributed to increased electricity tariffs and prices for ordinary South Africans.

“We appeal to the public to continue to be our eyes and ears so that we can rid our society of this cancer of cable theft, which is costing the country dearly and hampering our ability to provide efficient service delivery to our communities,” he said.