Two men were arrested by members of the SAPS Economic Infrastructure Task Team for allegedly stealing 3.5 tons of copper wire worth an estimated R500,000.
DURBAN – Two men, aged 29 and 44 respectively, were arrested for allegedly stealing 3.5 tons of copper wire worth an estimated R500,000.
SAPS eThekwini District spokesperson Captain Carmen Rhynes said that on March 20, SAPS officers of the Economic Infrastructure Task Team (EITT) received information about a truck being loaded with copper cables and travelling in the Umbilo area.
Rhynes said officers responded and stopped the truck.
“Upon questioning the driver, with his passenger, they confirmed that they were transporting a load of copper,” Rhynes said.
She added that the premises where the truck was loaded with the copper was also searched by EITT officers.
Rhynes said two men were arrested and charged with tampering with essential infrastructure, possession of stolen property and receiving stolen property.
“The exhibits that were seized were 3.5 tons of stripped copper cables, one electronic scale and the truck transporting the copper wire. The estimated value of the copper wire is R500,000,” Rhynes said.
eThekwini district commissioner Major-General Makhosazana Victoria Kheswa commended the SAPS eThekwini Economic Infrastructure Team, working with all role-players, on the arrests made and the recovery of over 3.5 tons of stripped copper wire.
