At about 4.30am on 14 March, two men were recorded on CCTV cameras removing copper cables from a manhole on the corner of Diagonal and Helen Joseph streets in Johannesburg CBD.
Metro police officers responded swiftly to a tip-off and arrested the two suspects as they tried to flee the scene. Upon closer investigation, two more suspects were found hiding in the manhole.
The police officers recovered copper cable valued at an estimated R100 000 and a bakkie, thought to be the getaway car, was also impounded.
The four suspects were taken to Johannesburg Central Police Station where they were charged with theft of municipal property. They are expected to appear in court soon.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Public Safety, councillor Sello Lemao said, “The use of CCTV [cameras] to fight crime remains an important part of our efforts to reduce theft of municipal infrastructure, assaults, robberies, car hijackings and lawlessness in the City.
“We are working with police, Johannesburg Roads Agency and City Power to reduce theft and vandalism and we are also now able to effectively deal with such acts through the courts which hand out heavy sentences.”
Metro police spokesperson, Edna Monyane, was unavailable for comment at the time of publishing.
