Calls for action against informal and illegal scrap metal dealers have increased as petty thieves become more brazen, stealing anything they can sell for a quick buck.
Yet, there seems to be no answer to the wanton theft and vandalism plaguing Nelson Mandela Bay — and Walmer residents particularly, have been left to endure sleepless nights as criminals hold them to ransom.
Copper theft, whether electrical cables or water pipes, continues unabated, and residents fear it is only a matter of time until the undaunted criminal elements in Walmer escalate to more violent crimes.
“They no longer come at night, or even in the dark,” one frightened resident said.
“Peak traffic doesn’t even scare them off any more.
“They are coming closer and closer to my home. How long will it be before they decide to come inside, whether I’m here or not?”
Security officials and legitimate scrap metal dealers agree that action needs to be taken against informal and illegal dealers who do not comply with laws pertaining to the buying and selling of scrap copper and other metals.
Sitting in her Walmer home, one resident was visibly uneasy.
In the previous week she had three incidents of perpetrators targeting overhead power cables outside her premises.
“They came one day and ripped the cables down, but they were interrupted before they could remove them.
“They came back the next day to remove one cable, and came back again to remove another.
“And this was not in the early hours of the morning, under the cover of darkness.
“They were here just after 8am on a weekday, and then came back between 6pm and 7pm.
“These are peak traffic hours, and we stay on a busy street.”
Besides the inconvenience of being without power for an extended period, she fears the culprits could become more brazen as time passes.
“Nearby, one of our neighbours had a home invasion in the middle of the day.
“Criminals simply walked into their home and helped themselves to valuables while the children were inside the house.
“What if they find us here and become violent?”
Last month, The Herald reported on the incident the resident was referring to, where perpetrators scaled a perimeter wall and stole copper pipes and a ladder, and the next day, while contractors were on-site for repairs, two suspects casually strolled into the house and helped themselves to electronics and other valuables.
All the while, the homeowner’s five-year-old son was playing video games in the lounge while the domestic worker was making lunch in the kitchen.
“We hardly sleep at night because we are afraid something like that could happen to us too.
“I sit up most of the night looking at the monitors of my security system, wondering when the cameras will pick up movement,” the woman said.
Down the street, another resident is waiting for a large water bill after his water pipes were stolen while he was out.
“I was away for the weekend and heard about it only when a friend happened to be driving past my house and saw water running down my driveway.
“He knew I was away and realised something must be wrong.”
A family member with keys to the house was able to shut the water off, but the homeowner said it was unclear how long the water had been gushing from the stolen pipe and brass tap.
Bay safety and security political head Lawrence Troon said while much of the department’s focus was on larger-scale infrastructure damage and cable theft, the concerns of private residents formed part of its investigations.
“One of the biggest concerns around the theft of copper, whether it be from large electrical cables or from residential water pipes, is the illegal dealers that buy these stolen goods and provide a market for the thieves.
“If we can trace where these thieves are selling their goods, and close these illegal scrap dealers down, it will make this illegal trade increasingly difficult and we hope to see fewer incidents.”
Troon said regular compliance inspections were conducted at well-known scrap dealers, while more investigation work was required to track down illegal dealers and catch them red-handed.
Acting safety and security director Warren Prins said his department was working closely with the police in their efforts to clamp down on copper theft and the illegal trade in it.
Mike Bain, owner of M&B Scrap Metal in Heugh Road, said illegal scrap dealers were making it increasingly difficult for him to run his legitimate business.
“I get regular compliance inspections, and to ensure I stay on the right side of the law.
“I’ve had to chase away people trying to sell things I know are illegal.
“Then they just take it to one of the illegal dealers operating in Walmer township.”
According to regulations on ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as set out in the Second Hand Goods Act, scrap dealers must keep detailed records of their trade — a copy of the seller’s ID, what type of product is brought in and the quantity.
Any copper brought in must then be kept for a seven-day waiting period before it can be sold again.
That means, should a compliance inspection take place, and any of the goods on the seven-day cycle match the description of goods reported stolen, the scrap dealer can point the police in the direction of a possible suspect.
“I’ve been in this business for 25 years and you learn a few things,” Bain said.
“So when I see someone bring items that I can tell were stolen, I confiscate them and chase them away.
“Then I immediately notify the police and the compliance officers in my area.
“But I wish more could be done to stop the illegal dealers, because those are the guys keeping copper thieves in business.”
Fortunately, the police are making some strides in the fight against copper theft.
Last week, two men were convicted of tampering with essential infrastructure and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by the Gqeberha magistrate’s court.
Khanye Pikoli, 28, and Elgin Hart, 27, were arrested on July 15 after Algoa Park police members were notified about people digging up cables next to Old Uitenhage Road in Missionvale.
They were convicted in terms of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act.
District police commissioner Major-General Vuyisile Ncata welcomed the sentencing, saying it should serve as a warning to other potential cable thieves.
“The reckless activities by these offenders prejudice the livelihood of citizens as they affect the wellbeing, daily functioning and economic activity of the public.”
He said their actions affected communication services, railway transport, and water and electricity supply to private homes and businesses.
“It is therefore incumbent on law enforcement and the community to be vigilant and arrest or report any perpetrators found to be violating the Criminal Matters Amendment Act,” Ncata said.
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