Unsuccessful cable thief caught on camera

The question of how cable thieves succeed in their act was partially answered recently in video footage of one of these incidents.

The Record in its extensive coverage of the scourge has come across many ingenious ways that cable thieves use to steal the copper from these cables. Everything from coat hangers on long poles to hook the overhead cables, to the more crude way of using a truck to bend the lampposts in order to get closer to the much sought-after copper-filled cable.

Elvey Security Technologies once again has provided the Record with video footage of criminals in action, this time of cable thieves.

The incident caught on camera took place on 11 March at 3.24am in Eales Street, Witpoortjie. What is disturbing is additional footage of the previous two nights showing the thieves, one with a heavy duty glove and cable cutter in hand, surveying the streets and inspecting lampposts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtOC4PWJv_U&feature=youtu.be

In the early morning hours during which private residence’s CCTV camera caught video footage of the incident, the thieves already vandalised three to four other lampposts out of view, according to the homeowner.

When the cable thief got to this specific lamppost his monkey-like prowess left him in the lurch though. It was a rainy night and the lamppost most likely was wet as well.

Within seconds the thief can be seen scaling the lamppost but close to the top his upper body strength seemed to fail him and he has to abort his attempt.

The attempt took less than two minutes.