MANENBERG CABLE DIEWE BUST

Metro Police officers arrested four suspects for cable theft in Manenberg last night.

At around 11pm Metro Police CCTV operators spotted the group digging up cables on the corner of Thames and Manenberg Avenue.

They activated officers on the ground, and as they arrived on scene, the suspects scattered and fled in different directions. 

Metro Police spokesperson Superintendent Ruth Solomons reports: “Officers, assisted by their Law Enforcement counterparts, conducted a search of the area, and found two suspects walking in Thames Avenue, covered in sand. Two more suspects were apprehended in Belinda Walk.

“Back on scene, officers discovered approximately 40 metres of stolen cable. The four suspects, identified by CCTV operators, were arrested and charged with damage to essential infrastructure and cable theft. The suspects, aged between 25 and 36, were detained at Manenberg SAPS.

“In addition, Law enforcement members arrested five more suspects when they discovered cables at the same location.”

Two weeks ago, on 21 May, cops were stoned by community members attempting to arrest skelms digging up cables at the same corner.

At the time, Manenberg SAPS station commander Brigadier Jayce Naidoo said: “Cable theft is a huge concern within the Manenberg residential area. The destruction and theft of critical infrastructure leads to the contribution of other priority crimes.”