News / Local
Copper cables thief dumps Totota Quantum, flees
11 Jun 2012 at 03:09hrs | Views
A suspected South African copper cables thief dumped his Toyota Quantum vehicle which had copper cables worth $27 000 suspected to have been stripped from a Zesa power line in Mbembesi area.
The suspect is believed to have bolted from the car to evade police officers who were closing in on him.
This development has raised suspicion that locals could be working in cahoots with foreigners to steal copper cables. According to Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Siphiwe Makonese, Mbembesi area Zesa power lines have been recently targeted by copper thieves.
She said on 5 June and at around 11pm, there was power outage in the area, which raised suspicion from members of the community since there were recent cases of copper cables theft.
"The police were alerted and two armed patrol teams comprising three police officers each were deployed in Ingwenya Dam area, where a case of copper cables theft had recently occurred," said Asst Insp Makonese.
"The team searched the area and discovered copper cables dangling from a Zesa power line."
Asst Insp Makonese said police intensified their investigations and came across the bundle of copper cables and a Toyota Quantum vehicle which had no number plates.
"There was one suspect who on seeing the police bolted out of the car and disappeared into a nearby bush leaving behind the locked vehicle and the stolen copper cables," said Asst Insp Makonese.
She said the officers checked the vehicle to ascertain the owner and discovered a licence disk bearing registration number WWD 790 GP and engine number 2KD 172 3829 in the name of N Ndlovu of Entabeni Flat, number 002, CRN Hillbrow, Johannesburg, South Africa. Asst Insp Makonese said the police Dog Section Unit, the Border Control and Minerals Unit, Scene of Crime Unit and Zesa Loss Control were advised and attended the scene, but the suspects could not be found.
She said the cables were measured and were found to be 5 400 metres long.
The vehicle is still locked and is under armed guard.
"We suspect that this could be the same syndicate operating in Mbembesi area stealing copper cables from Zesa power lines," Asst Insp Makonese said.
The suspect is believed to have bolted from the car to evade police officers who were closing in on him.
This development has raised suspicion that locals could be working in cahoots with foreigners to steal copper cables. According to Matabeleland North provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Siphiwe Makonese, Mbembesi area Zesa power lines have been recently targeted by copper thieves.
She said on 5 June and at around 11pm, there was power outage in the area, which raised suspicion from members of the community since there were recent cases of copper cables theft.
"The police were alerted and two armed patrol teams comprising three police officers each were deployed in Ingwenya Dam area, where a case of copper cables theft had recently occurred," said Asst Insp Makonese.
"The team searched the area and discovered copper cables dangling from a Zesa power line."
Asst Insp Makonese said police intensified their investigations and came across the bundle of copper cables and a Toyota Quantum vehicle which had no number plates.
"There was one suspect who on seeing the police bolted out of the car and disappeared into a nearby bush leaving behind the locked vehicle and the stolen copper cables," said Asst Insp Makonese.
She said the officers checked the vehicle to ascertain the owner and discovered a licence disk bearing registration number WWD 790 GP and engine number 2KD 172 3829 in the name of N Ndlovu of Entabeni Flat, number 002, CRN Hillbrow, Johannesburg, South Africa. Asst Insp Makonese said the police Dog Section Unit, the Border Control and Minerals Unit, Scene of Crime Unit and Zesa Loss Control were advised and attended the scene, but the suspects could not be found.
She said the cables were measured and were found to be 5 400 metres long.
The vehicle is still locked and is under armed guard.
"We suspect that this could be the same syndicate operating in Mbembesi area stealing copper cables from Zesa power lines," Asst Insp Makonese said.
Source - chronicle
