The City of Cape Town is cracking down on those stealing and vandalising critical infrastructure.
On Friday, 3 May, officers attached to the Metal Theft Unit were informed of thieves stealing infrastructure in Ottery. The members patrolled known scrap yards and found two people matching the provided description standing in the queue.
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‘Further investigation uncovered in their possession, a City of Cape Town street light pole that had been cut into pieces,’ says JP Smith, the City’s Mayco member for safety and security.
Officers then returned to the location of the original complaint. There, they found the remainder of the street light pole. Both suspects were arrested and charged under the Criminal Matters Amendment Act.
Around 8pm, patrolling law enforcement officers came across a suspect with more infrastructure in their possession. The 24-year-old was arrested and also charged with possession of stolen property.
‘With the City having already spent millions of Rand replacing stolen infrastructure, in some instances newly replaced street light cabling is dug out and removed, in less than a week after it being replaced,’ Smith adds.
‘The City’s Law Enforcement Energy Unit, along with their counterparts in the Metal Theft Unit, are hard at work trying to safeguard infrastructure and prevent the rampant theft.’
To report information on stolen infrastructure, including the whereabouts of suspects or if you witness such theft, contact 021 480 7700.
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Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook