THE izinyoka were determined to steal the whole cable and even after the police arrested one of their friends, they didn't seem bothered.
After the police took in their friend, they returned later to finish what they had started, and the cops caught them in the act.
They have now joined their friend in the police cells.
Lieutenant-Colonel Kelebogile Thepa said the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Anti Cable Theft Unit Officers arrested four male suspects, aged between 22 and 40, for tampering with essential infrastructure on power street, in the Germiston area.
Thepa said that Metro cops were patrolling around Germiston when they received information from a private security company.
"The information was that the two male suspects were digging up copper cable in a nearby sinkhole on power street," Thepa said.
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She said the police swiftly responded, and upon arrival, the suspects fled and they managed to capture one of the suspects. They were found in possession of a 10-meter-long copper cable with an estimated value of R5 000.
"Later in the day, officers patrolled the same scene again, only to find three male suspects digging up copper cables."
She said this time, the three suspects who were caught red-handed were found in possession of about an eight-meter-long copper cable, with an estimated value of R8 000.
The suspects were detained at Germiston cop shop and are expected to appear in the Germiston Magistrates Court on Monday, 24 July, facing charges of tampering with essential infrastructure.
