Cable thieves strike again in the Moot
“Cable theft is a big problem for the metro because it takes a long time for the cables to be repaired again because there are so many cases”
Cable theft in the Moot is becoming a nagging problem for authorities and security companies in the area.
“Hardly a week goes by without any cables being stolen,” said Reinhard Raschke of MCS Security.
“I would say there are about two to three cases a week.”
Raschke said the neighbourhoods most affected were East Lynne and Môregloed.
“The Rietfontein area is also being targeted between 22nd and 24th avenues in Louis Trichardt Street,” he said.
He said it was important for residents not to confront the criminals.
“Just before the national lockdown, a resident was shot in Wonderboom South when he went to investigate a cable theft case,” he said.
Raschke referred to a case in March when local resident Francois Lubbe was shot in his own driveway.
He said cable thieves were sometimes armed.
“Please never confront them – you and your family’s safety comes first,” he said.
“Rather let your local security company, police and metro police know.”
Former local ward councillor Elmarie Linde said in the metro’s region 3, there has been a case of cable theft every night for the past two weeks.
“The most popular times for this crime are usually between 02:00 and 05:00 in the morning,” she said.
“Thus it is important that residents are prepared during those times. If the dogs start barking at that time, the chances are good that there are cable thieves at work.”
Linde said cable thieves usually use a bolt cutter and climb up the pole.
“They usually work in groups of four to eight, depending from how many cables they steal.”
She said in some instances it looked like official Tshwane metro vehicles doing work.
“What then happens is the electricity is on and then as soon as the vehicle is gone, the electricity goes off,” she said.
“This means that it was people who went to work under the banner of the metro and stole cables.”
She said the most important thing with such a case was that residents should be on the lookout for this.
“But don’t just confront them,” she said.
“Residents can get important details such as their vehicle’s registration number. Then, if the power goes off as soon as they are gone, residents can know that it was a case of cable theft.”
Linde said residents should immediately let the metro police know if a cable theft has occurred.
“Cable theft is a big problem for the metro because it takes a long time for the cables to be repaired again because there are so many cases,” she said.
“There is still a limited team working under the lockdown.”
She said residents waited up to 48 hours last week for power to be repaired due to cable theft.
READ MORE: Power stations experience a hike in cable theft and vandalism
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