Tweedledee and Tweedle‘dumb’ failed cable theft in Middelburg
Suspected thieves caught on camera, in copper cable theft attempt in Wes Street.
Two suspected cable thieves were caught on camera attempting to tamper with electrical cables on a pole in Wes Street in the early hours of the morning. It’s the latest incident of infrastructure crime troubling residents.
The attempted theft reportedly occurred at around 05:00 on March 27, according to a concerned resident who witnessed the incident.
Footage recorded from behind a residential fence across the road shows Tweedledee and Tweedle‘dumb’ standing next to an electricity pole on the street. One man appears to pull at cables running down the pole while the other lingers nearby, keeping watch.
The pair struggle with the cables for a few moments before giving up.
The resident said the suspects quickly realised they had been spotted. “They ran towards the Mhluzi side, towards the end of Wes Street after they noticed I saw them and was recording them,” the local said.
The witness also pointed out that this location has previously been targeted. In February, breakers were stolen from a distribution board located on the ground about five metres from the same pole, also in the early hours of the morning.
“That also happened around 05:00, which makes me think it could be the same two trouble makers,” the resident explained.
The attempted theft also follows a recent fatal cable theft incident in March, where a man was electrocuted while attempting to steal electrical cables at a mini-substation in Mulati Street.
According to the municipality, the man died on the scene while other suspects fled. The matter is still under police investigation.
Copper cable theft remains a persistent problem in Middelburg, leading to power outages, damage, and serious safety issues, more often than not.
Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity to authorities or their local community policing forums.
