Man caught red-handed stealing copper cables from traffic light
The incident highlights the ongoing problem of cable theft and infrastructure vandalism in the city, that cause significant disruptions to traffic and services.
A man was caught in the act of stealing copper cables and vandalising a traffic light on January Masilela Drive on Monday.
Bull Security received a tip-off and quickly responded.
“The control room received a call about a man who was breaking open a traffic light on January Masilela Drive,” said Bull Security.
Bull Security said its unit swiftly responded and found the man still busy removing the copper cable from the traffic light.
“The man noticed our unit and ran but officers quickly caught him.”
A big bag full of copper cables was found in his possession.
He was later handed over to Brooklyn SAPS, who charged him with cable theft and malicious damage to essential infrastructure.
Bull Security said this was yet another reminder of the need to take a tough stance against those who commit such crimes.
The man will appear in court soon.
Recently the metro warned that traffic light vandalism and theft cause a significant disruption to traffic flow in the city.
“In the past few months, there has been a sharp increase in the number of traffic lights that have been vandalised or had parts stolen,” said metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba.
Bokaba said the parts being stolen included transformers and controllers.
“This has led to many intersections operating without traffic signals, leading to long delays and an increased risk of accidents.”
He added that insurance claims were being processed in an attempt to recover the losses.
Bokaba urged residents to immediately report any suspicious activity around traffic lights to the TMPD.
“Communities are cautioned not to confront people found tampering with a traffic light, but rather to report them to TMPD on 012 358 7095/6.”
He said the city would take steps to deter theft and vandalism of traffic lights through the installation of security cameras and increasing patrols in high-crime areas.
“However, the public’s cooperation is essential in preventing these crimes. By working together with communities, the city can help to keep its traffic lights safe and ensure that residents can travel safely.”
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