Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) IIOC unit were notified of two suspects on the corner of Albert and Loveday streets in the Joburg CBD cutting network cable.
The two were caught on CCTV footage on 9 February.
The spokesperson for the Metro police, Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said CCTV footage monitors contacted JMPD undercover officers who then went to the site and arrested the two male suspects on the spot.
A case of cable theft has been opened at the Johannesburg Central Police Station.
On 09/02/2020 at about 07:10 whilst on patrol at Albert Str near Loveday, our @JoburgMPD IIOC Undercover officers spotted 2x males cutting a network cable, they immediately approached & managed to apprehend both suspects & detained them at JHB Central SAPS for cable theft. pic.twitter.com/01NXDQvO7K
— Tembeds (@AsktheChief01) February 9, 2020
Some Twitter users felt the sale of scrap metal for cash must come to an end and local authorities must tackle the issue:
The sale of scrap material must be considered a crime, close all backyard scrap dealers
— Runyararo (@RunyararoPeace) February 9, 2020
Chief. You guys have to shutdown the sale of metals for cash! It will completely destroy Jozi. I promise you.
— Mbongwa (@Eita_Olaa) February 9, 2020
Please get information about the buyers, this is killing our economy.
— Rolisizwe Lunika (@Rolisizwe) February 9, 2020
This is treason, those arrested for stealing metals must be sentence long years behind bars.
— S60 (@Siga_Sixty) February 9, 2020
I know that the courts are imposing significant sentences to deter this crime but it does not seem to be working. The demand for these commodities needs to be dealt with I. E scrap yards and metal dealers
— Shakti Jainarain????️ (@InvictusManeo17) February 10, 2020
Related articles:
https://northeasterntribune.co.za/222424/highlands-north-frustrated-by-cable-theft/
https://northeasterntribune.co.za/238797/police-arrest-five-suspects-possession-stolen-copper-cables/