SECUNDA – A suspected cable thief was caught in Witzenberg Street this afternoon, 14 June.
When some residents in the street followed up why their electricity was off, they realised that cables were being stolen.
One resident spotted the thief and called in the Zello channel Secunda 911 Assist 24/7.
A member of this team who arrived on the scene noticed a man who fit the description of the suspect and set after him.
The suspect was caught loaded into the 911 Assist 24/7 bakkie.
Mr Jaco Horn said on behalf of this group that a bag containing numerous cables were found in the suspect’s possession.
He said the man’s hand is covered in burn scars.
According to another resident, two men who appeared to be municipal officials arrived on the scene. One of them climbed onto the back of the bakkie and began to beat the suspect with a stolen cable.
“This is when the suspect managed to jump off the bakkie and ran,” she said.
A warning shot was fired as the suspect was running away.
The suspect did not get very far though. He apparently tried to scale a dilapidated garden wall of a house in Tugela Street, but the wall gave way and the man fell.
He was again caught and held until the police arrived.
Ms Taljaard said the man had an accomplice who also took off when his friend tried to escape.
