Rail unit’s arrests encouraging
A CABLE thief was sentenced to 12 years in jail, after he pleaded guilty to stealing copper cable belonging to Prasa.
In a joint statement by the Western Cape government, City of Cape Town and Metrorail said the cable thief pleaded guilty last week and his 12-year sentence was suspended for six years.
Last week, REU conducted six operations, 28 stop-and-search operations and inspected 66 hot spot areas and scrapyards, while Prasa teams attended to 27 court cases in various magistrate’s courts to see that suspects were brought to book.
Metrorail Western Cape regional manager Richard Walker said the majority of suspects pleaded guilty as a result of the solid evidence provided by Prasa investigators.
Walker said the arrests and convictions contribute to the improved predictability of the train service and the reduction of crime on trains and at stations.
Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith, said the statistics bear testimony to the work that the REU has done.
“I believe the case has been made for this to graduate from a pilot project to a permanent and growing presence on Cape Town’s trains and at railway stations,” Smith said.
Members of the public are urged to assist the REU by reporting crime and vandalism.
Transport and Public Works MEC Donald Grant was pleased by the REU’s efforts, and said the unit was increasingly becoming visible to commuters, who have indicated their gratitude for the additional officers that have made a difference.
Grant said the REU officers have been hard at work apprehending criminals and responding to calls where crime is suspected to have occurred.
“We remain encouraged by the arrests as this is an indicator that the strategies are working,” Grant said.
The statistics bear testimony to the work that the REU has done
JP Smith
MAYCO MEMBER FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY