Thieves Turn To Telephone Cables
By Za'im Zaini

Bandar Seri Begawan - The number of thefts of electrical cables seems to be falling, but cable thieves are targetting something new.

Telephone cables are fast becoming No 1 items on the list of thieves as authorities have confirmed thefts of these copper cables have become rampant of late.

Most end up being sold to scrap metal companies that have been warned repeatedly not to buy such suspicious metals but calls have gone unheeded.

The Royal Brunei Police Force has apprehended two Bruneians for telephone cable theft worth B$5,499 and owned by TelBru at Jln Tarap, Kg Kasat. Damages due to the theft have been estimated at around $70,000.

On April 7, acting on a tip-off from the public, the police apprehended the two, at around 2pm for cutting off the cable, which was not buried underground but was placed in a PVC pipe and could be easily pulled out.

According to evidence found the cable was cut into 23 pieces and placed in a vehicle parked in an area with dense overgrowth in a bid to deceive the public. The police also suspected that the culprits had changed the registration number of the vehicle in a bid to deceive the authorities, which was, however, foiled.

The cable, which was 0.64 mm thick, was to be sold to scrap metal companies at a price of $7 per kg.

The duo was produced in the courthouse on April 15 and was sentenced to nine months' jail for the offence under Section 379 of the Penal Code and two strokes of the cane for vandalising public property under Section 427 of the Penal Code.

In relation to this, the Kg Ayer Police Station and Police Central Station, BSB have managed to solve similar thefts in a number of areas in Kg Ayer. Five Bruneian men were detained, brought to the courts and sentenced.

The police have once again reminded scrap metal companies not to buy items such as electric or telephone cables sold by the public that may belong to the government.

It is an offence to buy such items and the company can be taken to court and charged.

The police said it encourages information from the public to help eradicate crime and preserve peace in the country. Information can be channelled to the nearest police station or hotline 993. With regards to theft, informants can call House Break In and Car theft Investigation Unit, Crime Investigation Department at 2232001 ex 9 or 412. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Related News: $70,000 Worth Of Copper Cables Stolen; Two Suspects Held

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