A copper cable thief was arrested and his cohorts escaped, but not before crashing the bakkie they were travelling in.
People in the quiet Blancheville neighbourhood gathered on Saturday, June 11 on the corner of Second Street and Fleur Avenue to see what damage was done to a wall after the thieves crashed into it.
The thieves misjudged a corner and smashed into the Masilela family’s wall after being chased by the Community Policing Forums (CPF) from Seekoeiwater and Highveld Park.
“We heard a loud bang and found the bakkie in our yard, but the driver was nowhere to be found,” said Ms Irene Masilela.
Mr Stanley White, sector commander from sector two said the municipality asked the police and the CPF to keep an eye out for copper cable thieves who targeted Second Street where the bridge collapsed some months ago and the Blancheville area.
A bakkie used by alleged copper thieves crashed into a wall on the corner of Second Street and Fleur Avenue on Saturday, June 11.
This area regularly goes without electricity as it has become an easy target for thieves.
An alleged copper cable thief was spotted in the Seekoeiwater smallholdings vicinity on Friday, June 10 and arrested on the spot.
The CPF then noted how copper was loaded into a bakkie on Saturday morning and gave chase.
After crashing the bakkie, the driver jumped out and fled.
The CPF searched the whole area, but could not find the culprit.
The bakkie was impounded by police. In the bakkie rolls of copper was found.
White said copper cable theft is now a schedule five offence and this means that no bail can be granted at the police station. The name of the crime has also changed to destruction of infrastructure. This new law came into effect on June 1.
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