{"id":53732,"date":"2022-05-03T08:29:20","date_gmt":"2022-05-03T06:29:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/rise-in-water-meter-theft-20220502\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T19:38:41","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T17:38:41","slug":"rise-in-water-meter-theft-20220502","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/rise-in-water-meter-theft-20220502\/","title":{"rendered":"Rise in water meter theft"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Retreat and Steenberg residents are asked to be vigilant as there has been an increase in water meter theft in recent weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ward 68 councillor Marita Petersen said an estimated 20 water meters were stolen in one week alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWater meter theft is on the increase in the Steenberg areas. For the last week an estimated 20 water meters were stolen and replaced by the City. This normally happens in the early hours of the morning between 03:00 and 05:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added that perpetrators need to be brought to book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you know of scrapyards buying parts, then we request that you please report it to 021 480 7700. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou have the right to remain anonymous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a Facebook post Deidre Mayes said their water meter was stolen in the early hours of Monday 25 April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease be vigilant, there have been incidents in the Retreat area where water meters have been stolen. \u201cOurs was stolen in the early hours of this morning where they actually cut the water meter out, which causes water to run out into the road. They seem to be targeting older water meters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added that scrapyards should not be buying stolen property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cScrapyards should not buy this from these people, they should know it\u2019s council property. They are enabling these people instead of refusing to buy it and reporting them.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unity Jacobs commented that thieves are targeting the old metal meters only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey are after the old meters because it\u2019s metal, they can sell it to the scrap dealers.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ania Horne, who is from Lakeview, said they had no water on Monday 25 April after their water meter was stolen the previous day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy water meter was stolen Sunday night, I had no water on Monday and had to go to the police station for a case number. It was fixed on Tuesday. I stay in Lakeview, but they are busy stealing in all areas.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horne added that thieves left her neighbour\u2019s plastic water meter and opted to steal their metal one instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy meter and my neighbours meter is next to each other, they left his one because his one is plastic, mine was metal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile Danielle Abrahams said their water meter was stolen last year and only replaced this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement on 26 April, Steenberg police confirmed that there has been a rise in theft of copper cables and water meters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSteenberg police have seen an increase in the theft of water meters and the theft of copper cables. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis morning at about 02:00, members of Steenberg police arrested a 24-year-old male for the possession of a stolen water meter in 6th Avenue, Retreat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSteenberg police has reason to believe that this suspect can be linked to other cases that occurred during April.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n