Copper cable theft reaches new heights
A man was caught red-handed stealing copper cables in the Lafrenz industrial area last Wednesday.
Members of the Katutura police force who were on patrol saw the man and shot at him. The suspect was wounded in his lower body when he tried to run away and he was taken to Katutura hospital for treatment.
In another incident, a suspect was arrested on Friday while six others went on the run after they were caught with copper cables in a shopping trolley.
According to Sgt Silas Shipandeni, police spokesperson in the Khomas region, statistics are not available on how many copper theft cases have been reported nationwide this year, “however in Khomas alone we already have about 70 incidents on record for 2022, which is between 10 and 12 cases a month,” he said.
“So far, 16 suspects have been arrested in connection with the theft of copper cables. The court has already prosecuted and convicted some,” he added.
He said information available to the police indicates that copper theft is particularly rife in areas like Katutura, Lafrenz, the northern industrial area, Otjomuise along Moses Garoeb road, in Cimbebasia, on the serviced land on the way to Brakwater, and near Omti Lodge.
“The incidents are more opportunistic as they usually target uninhabited areas or where copper cables are exposed. Cables are mostly stolen during the day, but it also happens at night,” he said.
Scrap yards involved
Shipandeni said there is a reasonable suspicion that certain scrap yards in the capital may be involved, as they offer the most popular market for stolen copper.
“The impression is of organised crime between the scrap yards and perpetrators. Companies that are the biggest victims are Telecom, NamPower and the Windhoek municipality because theft is more common on serviced land that is uninhabited and houses that were built a long time ago but are uninhabited,” he said.
Telecom stopped selling copper to scrap dealers on 15 June and is offering amnesty to anyone who wants to hand in copper to them before 31 August. However, thereafter it will be considered stolen property, according to the company.
Telecom’s chief executive Dr Stanley Shanapinda said the whole country suffers the consequences of copper theft since it needs to be replaced at a high cost, and it causes the interruption of services, including communication with emergency services.
He encouraged Namibians to contact the police or Telecom at 061 11 000 if they have information relevant to copper cable theft.
“If you see something, say something,” Shanapinda said. – [email protected]