In a partnership between neighbourhood watch members, police and law enforcement a breakthrough was made in the surge in drain cover theft in Woodstock.
According to U-Watch, the area has a drastic increase in theft of aluminium and copper cables as well as cast-iron drain covers for the past two years.
On Sunday 13 March, U-Watch patrollers, with the help of cameras in the area, identified a red bakkie believed to be involved in the theft of drain covers.
Gary Adams, U-Watch chair and Community Policing Forum Public Relations Officer, says: “U-Watch patrollers identified what appeared to be a red bakkie stopping in the street to lift drain covers and load them into the back. One of our patrollers spotted a red bakkie and we traced it. We immediately leveraged our connections to the copperheads and other City of Cape Town officials to report the incident.”
Adams says on Tuesday 15 March, based on an intelligence led operation, police oficers in Philippi spotted the vehicle.
“The officers found a load of suspected stolen cement slabs on the bakkie and arrested two suspects. To locate any stolen drain covers the members patrolled around the area and located an illegal scrap yard which further led to the seizure of suspected stolen metal items after which a third arrest was made.”
According to Adams, a major challenge in the area is informal scrap dealers and drug merchants.
Adams says they welcome the arrests and would like to see clamp downs on more scrap yards in the area. He describes the increase of cable theft as a “pandemic”.
He says they hope this sends a strong message to criminals.
“Criminals must understand that when you come to Woodstock, there is a very good chance you will be seen and will get caught.”
The City’s metal theft unit says it continues to see an increase in the number of arrests, and confiscations related to the theft and vandalising of critical infrastructure.
In the first six months of the current financial year (July to December 2021), the unit made 132 arrests compared to 91 during the same period the previous year. This represents a 45% increase year-on-year.
Over this same period 1 096 scrapyard inspections were executed compared to the 1 012 in 2020.
JP Smith, Mayco member for safety and security, says the situation was exacerbated by the national lockdown, when infrastructure was left unattended and became easy pickings for criminals.
“Loadshedding is also a factor, where areas are not only left in darkness, but there is no power supply to deter criminals from tampering with infrastructure. And, while most incidents are likely opportunistic in nature, one cannot discount the possibility that there is an element of organised crime involved, particularly around the theft of infrastructure that can be sold as scrap metal.”
He says an urgent intervention at national level is needed to reduce the demand for scrap metal.
Smith says the metal theft unit must be lauded for their sterling work under often very trying circumstances.
“Cable thieves operate under the cover of darkness and often in open fields or other places where the rest of us would hesitate to tread. So, one appreciates the efforts of our staff, but at the same time the arrest and confiscation rate is also extremely disappointing as it simply underscores once more that metal theft remains one of our biggest challenges.”
Adams says: “We would like to express our appreciation to the many groups involved in acting on the intelligence we were able to gather which leads to these arrests. Police and City of Cape Town officials have been excellent partners in helping to stamp out metal theft with a view to protect our infrastructure and save our residents increased rates and tax bills to pay for it.”
In the event of a crime of vandalism and/or theft in progress, or where public safety is at risk, residents are encouraged to report it to the City’s public emergency communication centre by dialing 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline.
