The rise in copper cable theft has become a significant concern in recent years, negatively affecting essential services and posing a threat to public safety.
The Milnerton area was recently affected by cable theft after cables for the street lights along Otto du Plessis Drive were stolen. This happened between Lagoon Beach and Racecourse Road (on the lagoon side) and between Racecourse Road and Blouberg (on the Flamingo Vlei side).
The Milnerton Central Residents Association (MCRA) says they received a call from the City’s electricity department on 4 October.
“Representatives from the MCRA and Sunset Beach then met with electricity officials the same day. The officials explained that there are extreme levels of theft of the cables for the street lights along Otto du Plessis drive. Due to this, large stretches of the street lights along Otto du Plessis are regularly off,” the MCRA says.
They (the MCRA) say this negatively affects road safety and general safety in the general surroundings.
“The City replaces these cables regularly, only to need to come back weeks and sometimes days later.”
Residents, neighbourhood watches and security companies are requested to be extra vigilant when patrolling along Otto du Plessis and report any suspicious activities to 021 480 7700.
“Residents that can think of innovative technology solutions to this problem can contact the MCRA and we can facilitate the implementation of such solutions.”
Copperheads
The City’s Metal Theft Unit (MTU), also known as the Copperheads, arrested 184 suspects between July 2022 and June 2023, up from 161 during the same period in the previous year.
The unit also increased its hotspot patrols by 42%, year-on-year, recorded a 23% increase in notices issued to scrapyards and issued 3 253 fines for various by-law transgressions.
Over a three-month period (April – June 2023), the unit confiscated 4 556,4 kilogrammes of stolen metal, and 405 metres of cable, compared to 537,5 kilogrammes (metal) and 238,5 metres (cable) during the corresponding period in the previous year.
“These confiscation statistics simply confirm the scale of the problem, and it is compounded by the near consistent higher stages of load-shedding which provides the perfect cover and opportunity for criminals. We’ve nearly doubled our staff complement since 2019, from just 19 members to 35 currently, and while that has been a welcome boost, the task at hand is quite simply massive. The unit’s efforts are supported by the City’s other enforcement agencies, but we are not going to win this particular war on our own. We require more swift prosecutions and lengthier sentences to act as deterrents, but also a legislative shift that takes the shine off the scrap metal trade, and the related theft of metals and critical infrastructure,” says the City’s Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith.
In recent months, the MTU has been notified of a few cases dating back to 2020 and 2021, that have been finalised, including:
- Two convictions in the Parow Regional Court, with prison sentences of three and four years respectively.
- A conviction in the Wynberg Regional Court, with a sentence of 12 years.
In one of the most recent incidents, earlier this month, enforcement officers received an anonymous tip-off about a vehicle transporting stolen cables.
The officers intercepted the vehicle along Klipheuwel Road, and found a bag filled with copper cables – the occupants could not account for the items, and the trio was arrested.
Residents can report crime and by-law offences anonymously 24 hours a day on 0800 110077.
