Cable thieves are caught much quicker with the help of communities in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. This is evident from today’s incident in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).
Advocate Andrew Moses, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Metro Police Acting Commissioner, said today, the report which resulted in the arrest of the suspects took place around 11pm.
Two people were caught within a 30-metre-long cable and were charged for causing damage to essential infrastructure and being in possession of suspected stolen property.
He has commended the police and the community.
“This is essentially what we want more of from our communities, residents must not
keep quiet when they see people damaging infrastructure, whether you stay in the
area or not, you must report when you see a crime being committed. Residents are
the ears and eyes in our communities, we take each case seriously and we respond.
It is through such collaborative efforts between Metro Police, the Department of
Community Safety and the public that we can stop this scourge of damage to
essential infrastructure ” Moses said.
A Government report back in February 2024, indicated Eskom copper theft is valued at just over R50, 7 billion every year.
Picture: Supplied by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality