AN expert gang of cable thieves is conducting a spree of break-ins to municipal electrical substations, stripping them of copper content.
On consecutive days, they forced their way into three units in Arboretum, removing cables and other metal components after disconnecting the high voltage supply.
‘This is obviously done by someone with a good knowledge of how the circuitry works,’ said City of uMhlathuze electrician James McGeer.
‘They know how to isolate the 11kV supply before stealing the copper.
‘Special, expensive tamper-proof locks were installed at all the substations but now they simply bend the metal doors with a crowbar to gain access.
‘It has become almost a daily occurrence and something needs to be done to catch the perpetrators.
‘Anyone who sees activity around a substation during the night should know this is abnormal and should contact the police.
‘Also, if alarms trip because power is down, this should be noted by security companies who could assist to apprehend the culprits.’
While the copper content stolen at a substation is worth about R3 000, replacement and labour costs bring the bill to five times that amount.
There are hundreds of mini substations scattered around the City, most of these in isolated areas, and as many as 50 may have been stripped in the past year – making it a massive cost to the ratepayer.
Added to this is the issue of scrap metal dealers who are receiving the stolen copper.
