PARKTOWN : Thursday, 18 August 2022– Essential infrastructure related crime has a detrimental impact on both the economy of the country and the livelihood of its citizens. It is on this basis that multi-disciplinary Essential Infrastructure Task Teams (EITT) were established across the province in a concerted effort to address this crime.
On Wednesday, 17 August 2022 police in Gauteng arrested a 43-year-old scrap yard manager in Vanderbijlpark, Sedibeng and recovered stolen copper cable with an estimated value of over R1.3-million.
According to a preliminary report a team consisting of members from Gauteng Highway Patrol, Sedibeng Crime Intelligence, Sedibeng Essential Infrastructure Task Team and Organised Crime Investigations operationalised information regarding theft of copper cables at Arcelor Mittal Vanderbijlpark. Further investigation led the team to a scrap yard in the same area whereby a scrap yard manager could not prove the origin of copper cables in his possession. The team searched the premises and recovered over 9 tons of copper cable stored in bags.
Representatives of Arcelor Mittal, Eskom and Telkom were called to the scene where after they positively identified the recovered copper cables as their respective properties.
The suspect is expected to appear before a Magistrates’ Court soon on charges of possession of presumed stolen property.
Community members are urged to report crime to their nearest police station, SAPS Crime Stop or alternatively leave an anonymous tip-off on the MySAPS App. Essential infrastructure related crime can also be reported directly to the Essential Infrastructure Task Teams in the respective districts across the province.