Stolen copper cables worth R250 000 recovered in Durban

Stolen eThekwini municipality copper cables to the value of more than R250 000 were recovered in a sting operation by the Hawks, the Durban Serious Organised Crime Unit, and other local police units.

Three suspects, aged between 23 and 51, were arrested on charges of being in possession of suspected stolen property.

SAPS media spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo said the police units, acting on a tip-off that stolen cables were being stored at a Montclair residence, executed a joint operation.

“Upon reaching the targeted house, authorities discovered four sealed wooden drums containing eThekwini Municipality copper cables and eleven carrying cables, with an estimated street value of R250 000. The house owner and two foreign nationals were taken into custody,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Mhlongo.

In a separate incident, eleven people, aged between 24 and 35, were detained by Hawks members from the Durban Serious Organised Crime unit on Wednesday. The arrests took place in the Mgababa area, where the suspects were caught in the act of burning copper cables.

Lieutenant-Colonel Mhlongo said that eThekwini municipality officials positively identified the cables as belonging to the municipality. The accused face charges of possessing suspected stolen property.

The recovered copper cables have an estimated street value of around R500 000. The eleven accused will reappear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Thursday December 14.