Suiderberg cable thieves escape capture after foot chase.
Security teams discovered metres of stripped cables in the squatter camp that had been dug up in trenches, but Ward 1 councillor Leon Kruyshaar says the interception is merely a drop in the ocean.
A cable theft operation in Suiderberg was thwarted by Uberwachung private security recently after members intercepted two suspects damaging metro-owned property.
The bust took place on August 12 when an officer of the Uberwachung armed response unit observed two suspicious people digging a trench.
Upon further investigation, it was determined that they were digging up wiring belonging to the metro.
The two were caught digging with picks in the open field next on the corner of Bremer and Sarel streets.
Uberwachung and GTM Security tactical teams were informed of the activity and proceeded to engage the suspects.
A chase on foot ensued, and the suspects escaped.
“Vehicles moved into position on the R80 highway, down Sarel Street in Lady Selborne while observation was maintained on the bridge of Dorp Street. Several vehicles moved into position and the instruction was given to intercept the culprits. The culprits started to run into the reeds, which is a wide area to cover. The culprits managed to evade our teams, but [the teams] ensured damages of thousands of Rand were further prevented to our infrastructure,” Uberwachung explained in a statement.
The suspects crossed the R80 into the green container squatter camp, where electrical cabling was found stripped.
Ward 1 councillor, Leon Kruyshaar, who was also on the scene, says the interception is merely a drop in the ocean as the area continues to grapple with cable theft.
“This is not even 5% of what’s happening in the Reeds bushes here. We have about 11 KVK cables lying here, they are busy stealing them, they’ve just trenched 10-15m again we can see in the fresh ground that has been dug up. They ran, changed their clothing, went through the reed bush and ran over the R80, unfortunately, the suspects got away. But that’s only thanks to Uberwachug security, they were wide awake and chased them on foot, unfortunately, they got away because they just saw them too late,” Kruyshaar said.
He sent a stern warning to cable thieves and any other potential chance-takers that their acts won’t be tolerated in the area and they will soon feel the long arm of the law’s reach.
“It’s only a matter of time. We will catch you and you will go to jail,” said Kruyshaar.
Residents with any information related to the incident are urged to contact local law enforcement.
Watch here:
@leonkruyshaar13♬ original sound – Councillor “TiKiToKi”
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