Cable thieves target electricity boxes
These electricity boxes are not locked, and that creates easy access for the criminals to cut and steal the electricity cables.
Criminals in Mamelodi target electricity boxes by cutting off cables during load-shedding.
Many residents have woken up to darkness without electricity recently, thinking it was due to load-shedding, only to find the cables missing from the electricity boxes supplying their houses.
Zanele Mahlangu from Mamelodi West said criminals cut the electricity cables at night during load-shedding and sell them to scrap yards.
She said they steal the cables around midnight when everyone is asleep, because no one goes out to guard the electricity boxes.
“These electricity boxes are not locked, and that creates easy access for the criminals to vandalise and cut off electricity cables,” said Mahlangu.
She believes it is a syndicate, because the criminals know what they are doing and which parts inside the box and cable to take.
Sections B2, B3, A3, and A1 have also reported this electricity box vandalism.
Jack Ndlovu said he woke up without electricity on Saturday morning, but thought maybe the load-shedding schedule had changed unaware the cables inside the box has missing, until neighbours wondered if other areas had electricity.
He said they went to investigate the box and found it had been stripped of cables.
Ndlovu said Tshwane metro officials came and replaced the stolen cables, and he had decided to buy a lock to prevent the cable thieves from gaining access into the box.
He advised other residents to do the same before they became the next target.
Residents feared their monthly groceries would get spoiled because of the stolen cables.
They claimed the issue needed to be addressed as soon as possible.
Ward 67 councillor Sizwe Tsiane encouraged residents to revive the neighbourhood watch groups to patrol the streets to keep them safe.
He said prevention is better than cure, and that residents shouldn’t wait to become the next victim.
Zoey Masuku Mabasa of Mamelodi West community police said the community needs to unite and fight crime together by forming their own street communities.
She said neighbourhood groups or street communities should also start working with police to fight crime in the different areas.
“We need to bring back street communities, because community members will help identify hot spot areas.”
She said the street community must also take turns guarding their own electricity boxes to prevent more cable thefts during late-night load-shedding.
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
