Cable crooks arrested with loot worth over US$1,500 in Bulawayo

Two suspected copper cable thieves were left dumbfounded after their apparent smooth heist ended in handcuffs and confiscated loot valued at over US$1,500.

The suspects, identified as Khumbulani Gumbo and Nicholas Moyo, were arrested along Kelvin Industrial Road in Bulawayo after police intercepted them carrying a satchel stuffed with stolen copper cables. The arrest has since linked the pair to a larger syndicate behind a spate of copper thefts that have plunged parts of the city and surrounding suburbs into darkness for weeks.

According to police sources, a patrol unit noticed the two men behaving suspiciously and stopped them for questioning. A search of their bag revealed a substantial quantity of armoured copper cables believed to have been stolen from a nearby power installation.

"They were immediately taken in for questioning, and during interrogation, they eventually confessed to stealing the cables from a bushy area near the Marvel substation in Emhlangeni," a source close to the investigation said.

The suspects also led police to the exact location of the theft, where officers recovered tools used in the operation - including a pick and shovel - which had been hidden in the undergrowth. The recovered cables have been taken to the police station as evidence, and investigations are ongoing to determine if the suspects are connected to other similar cases.

Bulawayo has recently been hit by a wave of copper cable thefts, with residents in affected areas often going without electricity for up to three weeks. The high resale value of copper has made it a prime target for criminal syndicates, especially in high-density suburbs and remote utility points.

Police have vowed to step up surveillance around electricity infrastructure and warned that those caught sabotaging public utilities will face the full wrath of the law.

"Acts of sabotage such as this affect thousands of innocent citizens. We will not rest until everyone involved is brought to book," said one of the investigating officers.

The arrests have brought a sense of relief to residents who have praised the police for their swift action. Community leaders are now calling for harsh penalties to deter future incidents, hoping that a tough stance will disrupt what has become a serious threat to essential services.