Metro Police officers in Gqeberha have arrested three men caught on camera cutting aluminium piping from a bridge on a Gqeberha off-ramp.
Footage of the suspects cutting the pipes using a saw was circulated on a community WhatsApp group. It was sent to Metro Police officers who quickly responded to the scene and caught the suspects red-handed.
Acting Metro Police Commissioner Andrew Moses says the collaboration was a prime example of how the scourge of vandalism can be approached.
“Cable theft and damage to infrastructure place a heavy burden on the municipality’s service delivery programme as much-needed resources must be reverted to repairs instead of improving conditions for the community at large,” he said.
Read also: Four people caught siphoning diesel from truck while driver was asleep in Parow
In the video, one suspect can be seen trying to remove a section of steel pipe that forms part of the railing, while his accomplice milled idly nearby.
The suspects were caught in the act and arrested for damaging essential infrastructure.
They are expected to appear in court soon to face the relevant charges.
AlgoaFM reported that in May this year on a different section of the Albany Off-Ramp, vandals ripped out metal expanding joints resulting in the road being closed.
Watch the video below:
