An estimated R120 000 is what it will cost to replace the stolen cables and repair damages in Valhalla and Clubview, Ward 66 councillor Ina Strijdom said. In both areas, cables thieves caused extensive damage. Luckily, according to Strijdom, the suspects did not manage to get away with all the cables.
“At the first scene in Valhalla they only managed to cut the cables before they were deterred by residents, but at the second scene also in Valhalla, they managed to get away with the cables,” she explained.
She further said that in Clubview, residents also prevented them from getting away with the cables. “Cables in Clubview were so badly vandalised during the attempted theft, however, that approximately 300m of cable had to be rebuilt in order to get electricity restored.”
According to Strijdom, one of the suspects was apprehended in Clubview by residents and then arrested by the police. “It is clear that the modus operandi of cable thieves has changed. Cable theft incidents have definitely picked up in the last few months. Cable thieves are extremely arrogant lately. In one case in Valhalla, a cable thief threatened a resident with a panga when the resident approached him. Residents should at all times be extremely careful when approaching cable thieves. They are normally armed in some way and are ruthless when it comes to taking a human life,” warned Strijdom.
Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Ilze Jones, said cable theft in Valhalla and Clubview was a huge challenge.
