Would-be battery thieves caught red-handed
MONTGOMERY PARK – A local security company cornered and arrested three men trying to steal cellphone towner batteries.
Three men were arrested after being caught red-handed breaking into a cellphone tower in Langenhoven Street.
The men were arrested by SCP Security during the early hours of 28 January.
According to SCP security director, Clive Maher, the men tried to steal the cellphone tower’s mast batteries which he said have become commonly stolen items due to their lifespan and value.
“After a short chase, all three were apprehended after being cornered by our vehicles and staff on the corner of Milner and John Adamson streets,” Maher said.
The Northcliff Melville Times tried to confirm the incident with the Sophiatown Police Station where the men were said to be detained.
Sophiatown Police Station spokesperson TJ de Bruyn said to his knowledge no such case was opened at the station but that he would keep searching.
De Bruyn did confirm that the batteries were regularly targeted by criminals and they had returned many confiscated batteries to the various cellphone companies they were stolen from.
“The people who steal these are really desperate. I don’t know how they manage to steal the batteries. They’re really heavy – it’s not the kind of thing you run with, you know?”
In terms of what they’re used for, De Bruyn said it could be that the batteries were opened for precious metals inside and sold or the batteries are generally flogged on the black market.
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