ANGRY, despondent and at his wits end was how Glen Anil businessman, George Cominos described his ongoing problem with scrap thieves who he says have cost him more than R170 000 since last year. Cominos said the problem started in November last year when the factory behind his workshop was targeted by copper piping theives who made off with countless metres of the valuable product.
“That caused the bank to flood and eventually collapse which cost R20 000 to reinforce with a gabion wall. Every single piece of copper piping around the factory has also been replaced. My geyser was stolen most recently in December and that flooded the factory. This is costing us a fortune, not only are we having to upgrade security but we’re also having to replace items that have been stolen,” he said.
Cominos said he remained baffled how the criminals managed to get over a three meter high wall to steal the geyser and also transport it out of the area. He added more than 10 businesses were targeted for different metals throughout November and December and three businesses also had their geysers stolen on Cypress Drive.
Robbed five times in six weeks
Another man who has felt the crippling effect of metal theft has been Paul Brooker from BNR Engineering. He was robbed five times in the past six weeks and the damage caused has cost the longtime businessman in excess of R90 000.
“They stole my geyser which caused the workshop to flood. We had about 50mm of water on the floor. They have stolen drills, grinders and welding machines. This is crippling to my business, I haven’t had the money to afford to replace the geyser,” Brooker said.
Both men agree that scrap dealers were to blame and remain convinced that the metal is destined for unscrupulous scrap dealers. “There’s no ways that these guys are carrying the stuff in the back of trolleys. I had aluminium extrusion measuring 6m in length stolen. There’s just too much to carry, you’d have to have a truck or a bakkie to transport them,” Brooker said.
Cominos was scathing in his attack on police saying that the Greenwood Park SAPS had “done nothing” to catch the culprits. But spokesman for the station, Lt Elvis Naidoo, said the station regularly performed patrols and every scrap dealer in the Durban North area has to account for where they recieve items from. He confirmed both men had opened cases but no arrests have yet been made.
“It’s a lucrative trade and there’s big money for recycled metal. We’ve had ongoing operations specifically targeting scrap metal dealers and sellers. Our message is you will be caught if found in possession of stolen items,” he said.
The Second-Hand Goods Act which was passed in April 2012 was meant to regulate the second-hands good industry but local police admit despite close monitoring, scrap theft is not an easily policable crime.
Metal theft: Cost to country’s economy incalculable
Andrew Layman, chief executive officer of the Durban Chamber of Commerce estimates South Africa loses as much as R9.5-billion in copper theft every year.
“The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) has a copper theft barometer and a group within its structures that monitors copper theft and interrogates ways in which it might be brought under control. In November last year, the value of stolen copper was R9.5 billion. This was not as high as in June when it peaked at R11.1 billion.
“Because international copper prices vary from time to time, the value may not always be the best indicator of trend, but over three years the price rose month by month in a consistent way, so the values given are closely related to the trend,” Layman said. According to the barometer, the amount of stolen copper increased last year from 128 metric tons in October to 131 Metric tons in November.
“Copper theft is a huge problem. Most of it is exported and the chamber’s view is that it should be detected at the port. If this were possible and the export market was obstructed, the thieving may stop, or slow down at least. The cost to the country’s economy in terms of break-downs is incalculable,” added Layman.
