Three arrested after copper cable theft at Cape Town national key point - IOL

The suspects are expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrate's Court.

Three people caught red-handed stealing copper cable from a national key point  in Cape Town are expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court. 

The arrests were executed on Monday after members of the Bothasig Visible Policing Cable Theft Unit and the neighbourhood watch responded to a complaint of cable theft in progress at the Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) along Durbanville and Tygerberg Valley roads. 

The SFF is a South African state-owned entity and a subsidiary of the Central Energy Fund (CEF).

The SFF manages and secures South Africa’s strategic crude oil stocks, petroleum products, and oil/gas storage infrastructure on behalf of the government.

The provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Captain Zinzi Hani, said the three men were caught in the act. 

“Officers received a report from the radio control room about alleged criminal activity targeting city infrastructure and swiftly attended to the scene. Upon arrival, they found three male suspects caught in the act of stealing copper cables,” Hani said. 

She said it was discovered that some of the copper cables were cut and stolen from inside the premises. 

“The unpeeled copper is 10 metres long with an estimated value of R80,000. The peeled copper cables have an estimated value of R40,000. The damage to the property of the national key point has an estimated value of R60,000,” Hani said. 

The men were arrested immediately and detained at the local police station. 

“The suspects were charged with tampering with and damaging essential infrastructure, as well as possession of suspected stolen copper cable,” Hani said.