Metal thieves cost us millions
2008-03-13
Lise Beyers
FERROUS metal theft is costing South Africa millions of rands each year, and the Drakenstein area has not remained untouched by the scourge of this theft. During the past few years various farms have been left without communication devices for weeks due to the theft of copper cables. Housing developments in Mbekweni and Paarl East have also been affected due to electrical cables having been stolen. Even normal households are now targeted by these metal fiends, who have taken to stealing copper water-pipes and brass taps. The police recently arrested Christopher Cupido in Borssenberg Street who was in possession of a solid brass coupling which is valued at thousands of rands. The coupling weighs about 50 kilograms and it is currently unclear where the suspect acquired it. It is suspected that it was stolen from a local business. Once stolen, electrical and telephone cables are burnt to remove the plastic casing and are then pounded to make them unrecognisable. The metal is then sold to scrap dealers. Scrap buyers are legally bound to insist on positive identification when being sold scrap, as well as keeping a register of the seller’s name and contact details. It has previously been reported that these regulations are not followed and this in turn opens the door for metal thieves to safely sell their wares. A spokesperson for the Drakenstein Municipality said that although the area has been previously disrupted by cable theft, it has been very quiet for the past few months. “When cables are stolen it is not only the financial implications of replacing them, but it disrupts a valuable service to the community. “And when thieves steal overhead cables, they often saw down the wooden poles as well, and these then also have to be replaced.” The Paarl police have said that after various arrests took place last year in connection with copper cable theft, this type of theft has been reduced.
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