Copperhead urges residents to complain

By Sasha Forbes
13 October 2008

The Mitchell’s Plain community is being urged to report copper theft to authorities. The Eastridge clinic has been forced to closed, after copper thieves flooded the building while disconnecting the plumbing. Schools in the area have also been targeted by criminals who ripped out copper wiring and pipes. The City’s copper theft task team’s Pieter Van Dalen says residents in the area must report be more pro-active. “The people of Michell’s Plain are not phoning in these complaints through to our toll free number and I don’t know why, I have investigated this matter and I find that these people are either harbouring the criminals or they are family members of them. So we get very little complaints from the Mitchell’s Plain area.”

Meanwhile Van Dalen says that they have found that most of the scrap yards and bucket shops are operating without licences and they only have receipts to prove that they have applied for licences; however that is not good enough. “We have found that lately most of the scrap yards and bucket shops are operating without licences, they only have a receipt that they have applied for a licence, but that does not give them a right to operate. They must be in possession of a valid second hand goods licence.”

Pieter Van Dalen says anyone with any problems must contact their 24 hour toll free number 0800 222 771