![](\"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-content\/plugins\/rss-poster\/cache\/a3744_Copperdgs.jpg\")
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The City of Cape Town\u2019s Metals Theft Unit (MTU), also known as the Copperheads, has established a K-9 Unit to aid them in the fight against metals theft in Cape Town. <\/p>\n
Four members of the MTU were recently sent on a four week dog handler\u2019s course, and as a result are now fully qualified dog handlers. This process was initiated by the Head of the Unit, Assistant Chief Neil Arendse, as a means to aid the officers in detecting stolen copper and aluminium cable. <\/p>\n
The two sniffer dogs that will be assisting the officers were trained through a variety of exercises that aim to simulate conditions they will be experiencing in the field, as well as instill a sense of obedience. The handlers, on the other hand, were trained in terms of how to bond with the dogs, handle them off the leash, and issue commands to them. <\/p>\n
The official launch of the new unit took place on Thursday, 22 November 2012, where a short introductory demonstration as to how they will operate in the field was presented. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis event should be seen as an historic moment for the City\u2019s Law Enforcement Services,\u201d said Alderman JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security. <\/p>\n
\u201cSpecialist dogs work in a variety of law enforcement and military functions, detecting a wide range of specific scents that they have been trained to recognise,\u201d he continued. \u201cDetecting the presence of copper is just one more field in which they excel.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cWith the aid of these new members, the Metals Theft Unit will now be able to search for copper in a variety of concealed locations. To offer an idea of how effective they can be, a human\u2019s sense of smell relies on an area of membrane the size of a postage stamp \u2013 in a dog this is the size of an A4 sheet of paper. This keen sense of smell allows these dogs to find stolen copper even with the introduction of disguising odours.\u201d <\/p>\n
So the word is out for copper thieves: Beware, the noose just got tighter. The next nose that sticks itself into your (illegal) business might be a cold and wet one! <\/p>\n
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