Durban — Private security company, KZN VIP, has warned that copper theft was on the rise again in Phoenix.
KZN VIP spokesperson Gareth Naidoo urged residents not to approach copper thieves but instead to call their security service providers for help.
“Suspects are armed with screwdrivers, knives and other dangerous weapons and have injured response officers and residents,” Naidoo said.
He said that suspects who have been apprehended have confessed to selling the copper to local scrapyards for cash and the tools they used were being provided.
“Having dogs which are trained at home will help keep these criminals out of your yard. Also, try to avoid leaving valuables which may attract attention, items being stolen are chairs, hosepipes, anything of value,” Naidoo added.
The warning comes after CCTV footage of a family’s clothesline area showed an alleged copper thief.
According to the footage, the incident took place on Monday afternoon at 4.47pm.
In the 1-minute 25-second video, an alleged copper thief is seen placing what looks like a black plastic bag and what appears to be copper pipes on a corner concrete sink.
He then starts to pick up bagged items from the floor; the camera does not show this clearly.
He returns to the full view of the camera, climbs on to the concrete sink, with one foot on the wall, and starts to move the pipes and bagged items on to a neighbour’s roof.
Then the video cuts.
Daily News