Cable theft saboteurs a huge concern in Moot
“The value of the cables that have been found and handed over to SAPS is about R50 000.
Theft of railway assets is an ongoing scourge in the Moot area despite various security companies trying their best to combat it.
Ancelize van der Kooi of Kilnerpark Security said that cable theft was a major and ongoing problem in the area.
“Over the last few weeks, we’ve had numerous cable theft cases – including one in CR Swart Drive where one suspect was arrested.
“We were also informed of a suspected cable thief in Slater Road, but he managed to escape,” she said.
Reinhard Raschke of Citi Protection said that the number of cable theft cases was out of control.
“Criminals have been stealing streetlight cables. It does not attract attention, because no one’s power goes down.
“Only when someone notices the street is dark then it becomes clear cables have been stolen,” he said.
Raschke said that the criminals were also armed.
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“The only solution to catch these criminals are cameras that can detect them in time,” said Raschke.
Wonderboompoort CPF spokesperson Albie Fischer said that to date, the CPF members had arrested 14 perpetrators for the open pit and theft of cables along the railway line between Die Poort and Hercules train station.
“The operations require a lot of planning to make sure everything runs smoothly.
“Our planning also ensures that the safety of all members comes first.
“An average of 20 to 30 members of the CPF are involved and Brinant has also been on some of the operations together.
“As soon as the suspects are arrested, SAPS are contacted and the suspects are then handed over to them with all the cables and equipment they use to dig and cut cables.
“The value of the cables that have been found and handed over to SAPS is approximately R50 000.
“We will continue to arrange such operations and work with SAPS to arrest and expel the cable thieves as the problem will become very serious if nothing is done about it.
“We would like to thank those involved for the help and input they keep away from their families until the nocturnal hours and then also their further contribution to community safety,” said Fischer.
Pretoria Moot police station spokesperson Captain Anton Breedt said that they can only respond to cases as community members report them.
“Over the past year, R2.5-million has been spent on the reconstruction of power cables only in region 3.
“Overhead cables can go up to as much as R10 000 per 80 metres,” he said.
Meanwhile, a man’s body was discovered by community members in Kilnerpark last week.
The body was found in an open ditch next to the railway line across Mattterson and Slater roads.
It was yet to be determined what the cause of death was, with fears that the body may have been there for more than three days.
Police were yet to comment on the discovery of the body.
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