WITH the increase in theft of copper pipes and tampering with infrastructure, Westville SAPS made a breakthrough when they arrested a 43-year-old man on Thursday.

The man was charged with dealing in ferrous and non-ferrous metal, possession of suspected stolen property and tampering with infrastructure.

Westville SAPS communications officer, Captain Elizabeth Squires, said members of Westville Crime Prevention received information from crime intelligence of an illegal scrap copper deal taking place on the borders of Westville and Sydenham area.

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According to Squires, theft of copper cables and copper pipes as well as tampering and damage to infrastructure have increased drastically in the Westville area in the past months.

“The intelligence-driven operation was conducted with various roleplayers, including crime intelligence, Pinetown crime prevention, eThekwini Electrical, Telkom SA, and various security companies.”

Upon searching the yard, large quantities of copper pipes and copper cables were found.

“The cables included Telkom copper cables, eThekwini infrastructure copper cables, scale paraphernalia, large amounts of cash and cash receipt books,” reported Squires.

Westville station commander, Colonel Sharon Sihlangu, commended the members for their swift response and arrest of the suspect.

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