The City of Cape Town’s Metals Theft Unit (commonly known as the ‘Copperheads’) arrested three suspects for possession of stolen goods, thanks to a tip-off from a member of the public.
At 22:20 on Wednesday 22 August 2012, the Copperheads received a complaint from a member of the public that a group of men were ‘skinning’ cables (i.e. stripping their insulation) at a home in Lotus River. On arrival at the scene, they spotted the group stripping the cables in the yard. The officers shouted audibly and knocked on the metal gate to draw their attention as there was a high fence around the property and no means on entry except through the gate.
When a man answered the officers, they asked to speak to the owner of the property. After a few minutes, the man returned and advised that the owner was not home. The officers instructed him to unlock the padlock and open the gate. When the officers went round to the back and side of the house they found approximately 100 m of stripped aluminium cable already in bundles and another approximately 20 m of insulated cable.
The officers questioned another man who was also in the yard and checked the hands and clothing of both men for signs of cable-stripping and aluminium dust. On further investigation and following a series of unreasonable answers, the officers found the owner of the property hiding under a large nylon bag in the corner of the yard.
The officers immediately arrested the three suspects and took them to the Grassy Park Police Station where they were charged with possession of stolen goods. All three suspects are from Lotus River and it was found that the eldest of the three works for the City of Cape Town.
“The arrest of a City employee further proves that the City shows no favour in its pursuit of justice. The assistance of the community was invaluable in this instance and we thank them for their continued support,” said the Head of the Metals Theft Unit, Neil Arendse.
