Four people were arrested and more than 150 scrapyards across the Cape Flats have been inspected by the Rail Enforcement Unit in the past week.
According to a joint statement by Metrorail, the City of Cape Town and the provincial transport department, the unit conducted 1 075 stop-and-searches and arrested people in Bishop Lavis, Athlone and Manenberg.
Meanwhile the Passenger Rail Agency’s Protection Services and the Saps’ Rapid Rail Response Unit made another 16 arrests over the past week.
Twelve structures were dismantled and 26 vagrants were removed at Parow, Stikland and the Cape Town Station Deck.
The unit confiscated spades, knives, pliers, spanners, an imitation firearm and hacksaws from commuters and others along the railway lines and recovered 40 metres of copper cables.
Metrorail Regional Manager, Richard Walker, says a former Prasa employee was also arrested.
“The recent arrest of an ex-employee proves no one is above the law. We will show no fear or favour, a crime is a crime and we will continue to crack down on offenders,” said Walker.
Mayco Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, praised the unit for doing good work.
“It is early days yet, but already we are seeing good arrests for cable theft and other crimes, but also for fare evasion.
“I think, more importantly, trends are emerging around hot spots, which helps inform our deployment patterns and that’s a plus.
“The longer this unit remains in operation, the more intelligence they’re able to gather, which means even greater efficacy.”