Cell-tower battery theft puts Cape Town emergency calls at risk - IOL

Cape Town Tourism's destination safety lead Jeremiah Foster, and Cape Town Central community police forum chairman Marc Truss.

Organised syndicates stealing batteries, generators and cables from Cape Town cellphone towers could leave communities unable to call police, ambulances or security services during an emergency.

The threat to telecommunications infrastructure was raised at the Cape Town Central Community Police Forum meeting on Thursday, October 1,  where a security presentation detailed the equipment being targeted and measures being taken to protect cellphone sites.

According to the Atlantic Sun, a Bidvest Protea Coin security presentation tabled at the meeting warned that organised syndicates were systematically targeting critical communications infrastructure.

High-value targets include backup power batteries valued at R28,500, copper and aluminium cables, static and mobile generators valued at about R5,000, as well as perimeter fencing.

“Criminal syndicates are systematically targeting critical communications hardware,” the presentation said.

The report warned that the impact went beyond dropped calls when local towers were vandalised.

Residents could be left unable to contact SAPS on 10111, local armed response services or medical personnel, while extended outages could disrupt businesses, remote education and other daily activities.

According to the presentation, repairs were costing network operators millions of rand daily.

Law enforcement and network providers have responded by reinforcing sites with steel palisades, concrete walls, electric fencing and intruder alarms.

Bidvest Protea Coin Western Cape investigator Kgabo Mokobane told the Atlantic Sun that collaborative operations with the SAPS Essential Infrastructure Task Team had achieved convictions carrying prison sentences of between 10 and 15 years for syndicate members.

SAPS officers also briefed attendees on overall crime trends in the sector.

Key concerns include theft out of motor vehicles via remote jamming - where criminals watch drivers place valuables in car boots - and opportunistic cellphone grab-and-run targeting students and pedestrians.

Cape Town Central CPF chairperson Marc Truss said communities also had a role to play in fighting crime.

Truss said that high-footfall streets, including Long Street, Loop Street, and Bree Street, remain major focal points for ongoing operations.

“The community remains the eyes and ears of the police and is the first line of defense against crime,” he said.