Thieves arrested, copper worth R20 000 recovered
Copper thieves found stripping stolen cables along the uMgeni River bank.
TWO men were arrested on the banks of the uMgeni River with stolen copper cables worth about R20 000 yesterday. The men, both 30-years-old, were picked up by members of the Durban Flying Squad, who were busy with routine patrols when they received information about the suspects.
When they arrived they found the suspects stripping suspected stolen copper cables.
“They had made fire which they used to burn these cables, also in their possession was a hacksaw, pliers and knives used to cut stolen cables. They will appear in court on charges of possession of stolen property,” said police KZN police spokesperson, Capt Thulani Zwane.
Each year the city loses R60-million to copper theft. According to the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) which has a copper theft barometer, the value of stolen copper nationally this year so far was R13.6-million.
The problem of copper theft, especially in the vicinity of the river and the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve is longstanding.
According to a KZN Ezemvelo official who did not want to be named, thieves have cut through 32 sections of the fence bordering the M4 (going towards the city) to gain access to the reserve to steal and strip copper cabling.
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