A 33-year-old Phoenix man was caught red-handed while stealing municipal electricity cable last week, says the City.

A resident, who did not want to be named, fearing victimisation, called City Law Enforcement and Ward 4 councillor Anthony Benadie to help catch a man who was spotted cutting the cables along Atlas Drive in Phoenix, a known hotspot for cable theft.

The resident recorded video footage of the man allegedly stealing the cable and submitted it to the relevant City departments as proof.

Tabletalk has a copy of the footage showing a tall man in blue overall pants and an orange reflective vest chopping and pulling at the cable.

Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith confirmed that Law Enforcement officers had found 20 metres of the cable in the man’s possession upon his arrest and transfer to the Milnerton police station on Wednesday February 19.

Mr Smith praised the resident for reporting the incident and encouraged others to do likewise.

“We want to thank the resident who was not only vigilant, but brave enough to report it. When we all work together we can stop these crimes which impact entire communities,” he said.

Since 2024, the City had recorded more than 3000 incidents relating to electricity vandalism and illegal connections that cost millions of rand and left communities without power, he said.

“Money used to repair broken or stolen cables could have gone towards much needed service.

“Cable theft is an opportunistic crime, and, in recent years, the problem has become far more widespread. Generally, anything that potentially has resale value will be targeted; whether it be window frames or doors at community facilities or metal/copper fittings, covers or cables.”

Limited law enforcement resources in a large city like Cape Town was one of the key difficulties in policing the crime, he said.

“Another is how often suspects are released pending trial, as many simply return to their illicit activities. There have been cases where officers have arrested the suspect just days later.”

The lure of making money from selling scrap metal was another challenge, and something that national government needed to address, he said.

Mr Benadie said the resident who reported the incident had set an example to others.

“I urge residents to come forward with whatever information they may have,” he said.

Milnerton police spokesperson Captain Nopaya Madyibi said the suspect had been released on bail and was due to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday March 3.

City of Cape Town staff load the cables onto a trailer for further investigation. Picture:SUPPLIED