Gauteng cellular tower battery theft syndicate nabbed in Durban

Reaction Unit South Africa

Gauteng cellular tower battery theft syndicate nabbed in Durban
Gauteng cellular tower battery theft syndicate nabbed in Durban. Photo: RUSA

Two men who are part of a syndicate operating out of Tembisa in Gauteng that target cellphone tower batteries were nabbed by members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) following a lengthy search in Temple Valley, Verulam in Kwazulu Natal on Tuesday morning 7 July 2020.

At approximately 07:38 RUSA received a call from an informer reporting suspicious activity at a cellphone tower on Valdin Crescent. Multiple Reaction Officers were dispatched to the call due to an increase in battery theft from cellphone towers.

On arrival Reaction Officers found a VW Touareg parked in a reverse position and the front gate leading to the tower open. As Officers approached three suspects fled into a bush.

A lengthy foot chase ensued which ended in one suspect being arrested on Lotus Road and his accomplice on Talwantsingh Road in Temple Valley. The third suspect is still at large. A VW Touareg (with no registration plates) which was one of two vehicles being used to load the stolen batteries was abandoned at the scene.

An Isuzu bakkie with NRB registration plates and two other suspects was parked away from the scene and sped off as Reaction Officers approached the tower. One battery was found loaded in the back of the VW Touareg . The Gauteng registration plates were found on the front passenger seat. Several house break-in implements were also recovered.

During questioning the suspects stated that they were from Tembisa in Gauteng. They arrived in Durban on Monday morning and booked into a Bed and Breakfast in Inanda. During the course of yesterday and last night they broke into four cellphone towers on the North Coast of Durban and stole several Lithium Iron battery’s valued at R30 000 each. The batteries belong to MTN.

One of the suspects claimed to be a waiter and his accomplice a cook at a restaurant in Johannesburg. They stated that the joined the syndicate due to them being unemployed as a result of the lockdown. One of the suspects is a Zimbabwean national. Both suspects were allegedly paid R5000 each for their roll in the theft.

The two confirmed that the syndicate operate nationally. Suspects have keys to locks and it is believed that some members of the syndicate are contractors tasked with maintaining the towers.

Cellphone companies have reported losses of millions of rand on a monthly basis due to the battery theft.

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