Cops seek help on copper theft
MBABANE- Police officers have taken the initiative of teaching scrapyard workers on copper wire theft.
The officers yesterday visited a scrapyard located at the Mbabane Industrial Site.
They were there to seek help in locating a suspected copper wire theft syndicate.
Sargent Sibusiso Mkhombe said the theft of copper pipes, tubing, and wiring was on the rise due to the increased value for scrap copper.
In addition, he said construction sites, abandoned buildings, and commercial heating and air conditioning units were the biggest target.
“More often than not the damage caused vastly exceeds the value of the copper, but this does not deter the thieves. There have been numerous reports of stolen copper and we know that they end up in the scrapyards’’ said Mkhombe.
He said they were going around pleading with scrapyard personnel to report anyone who brought in copper wire for purposes of re-sale.
In addition, he mentioned that copper thieves were individuals or organised groups who operated independently or in loose association with each other and committed theft in conjunction with fencing activities and the sale of contraband.
“Here we are dealing with organised groups of drug addicts, gang members, and metal thieves that are conducting large scale thefts from electric utilities, warehouses, foreclosed or vacant properties, and oil well sites for tens of thousands,’’said the sergeant.
Mkhombe took time explaining to the workers that a wide assortment of building material containd copper, including heating and air conditioning units, plumbing, gutters, electrical components, and more.
He said prices changed all the time and thieves could make a lot of money selling copper.
He added that not only were businesses stuck having to repair or replace equipment stripped of copper, the damage often resulted in the loss of electricity and water.
Those arrested for copper theft are charged for felony and the maximum penalty could be up to three years in prison. If charged as a misdemeanor, the maximum sentence would be a year in jail. In either case, the defendant would be expected to pay restitution to the victim for any loss incurred as a result of the crime.
One of the workers said they were privileged to have the police officers come and educate them and promised to be on the lookout.