Thief caught red-handed

GEORGE NEWS - Copper cables worth about R500 000 were stolen in Pioneer Street in the Pacaltsdorp industrial area on Monday 4 September.

An officer from the Outeniqua K9 unit, Sgt Malcolm Kapank, and a municipal law enforcement officer, Joey Muller, caught a suspect (22) red-handed while he was stripping the cables.

The police suspect that more people might be involved, since much copper had been removed already, but at the time there was only one suspect at the site. The cables were removed from long ditches that had been dug in two places along the street.

Captain Lorraine Coetzee from the Pacaltsdorp Police said the suspect, who lives in Pacaltsdorp, will appear in the George Magistrate's Court later this week.

Chantel Edwards-Klose, spokesperson for the George Municipality, said the damage and theft amounts to about R500 000.

A damaged cable

"The electro-technical team is still in the process of assessing the damage caused. George Municipality condemns any theft or vandalism of municipal assets and will pursue all legal avenues to convict the offenders."

The public is requested to contact 0800 044 044 to report any information that can lead to the arrest and conviction of persons committing such crimes.