How criminals wreck South Africa’s telecoms networks

[rpm]

How criminals are wrecking South Africa’s telecoms networks

Criminals are causing massive damage to South African telecoms networks, resulting in downtime for consumers and costing operators millions. Here are a few examples of the damage

 

[Petec]

Man, why can't we have nice things in this country?

Time to go fully wireless... Or can these buggers also steal and vandalize the air?!

 

[rpm]

Man, why can't we have nice things in this country? Time to go fully wireless... Or can these buggers also steal and vandalize the air?!

Most of the photos are from wireless sites. Really not easy to get away from the impact of crime.

 

[])ragon_\/oid]

I'm just wondering, if and when we go fiber in the distant future, are we still going to witness theft and sabotage of the fiber? Right now, they are all looking for copper. What is after coper? Does fiber have any value to a crook, and scrap yard?

 

[biometrics]

I'm just wondering, if and when we go fiber in the distant future, are we still going to witness theft and sabotage of the fiber? Right now, they are all looking for copper. What is after coper? Does fiber have any value to a crook, and scrap yard?

Fibre no, it's glass and plastic I think. But you'll still have copper and lead in the power supplies.

 

[belowalthough]

All these people are stupid they are messing up this for everyone in SA. Also with Fiber it is useless to steal as you cannot do much with it.

So Fiber is the way to go. All these sites should have CCTV and then lock up these @#$@$ for Life.

For those who want to know - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiber-optic_communication

 

[grim]

The fckers should be shot on sight.

They steal fibre cables for the kevlar armouring used in it.

 

[RichardG]

Scrapyards are also to blame for accepting stolen goods. They maybe get for 1KG R100 or less. Surely the copper is marked/indicated with a serial number or specific colour for mobile operators and telecommunications operators...

They should be locked up on the spot and get 20 years, make an example of 1 and the rest will think twice.....

Sick and tired of copper thieves stealing copper especially overhead lines when they cut off the power for health care facilities(ICU patients relying on life support machines. ).

Happen in my area 3 times in less than 2 months, over a week we didn't have electricity , luckily one evening opened for dogs to sleep inside and they barked went to investigate;look at the overhead cable and notice 1 guy climbing, called the police immediately told them a house break-in is happening or else they wouldn't even bother to pitch. (Reading your area local newspaper).

 

[Petec]

Most of the photos are from wireless sites. Really not easy to get away from the impact of crime.

Waaaa? Seriously?

Then we need to develop mental telepathy or something, because at this rate we will never have decent internet The telkoms will only give a damn and guv will only give so much, to keep replacing stolen stuff.

 

[Petec]

Didn't telkom or someone once run current through the cables? But after some bastid was seriously shocked, the bleeding hearts took issue with one abhorrent pig getting frizzled compared to the millions in damage and downtime caused?

 

[maumau]

Didn't telkom or someone once run current through the cables? But after some bastid was seriously shocked, the bleeding hearts took issue with one abhorrent pig getting frizzled compared to the millions in damage and downtime caused?

If guvmint were really interested they'd clamp down on scrapyards. As previously mentioned they're also in on the act. CCtv cameras should be compulsory on the premises of scrap metal dealers and the should only be allowed to pay into a bank account. Cash deals forbidden.

It's not that difficult.

 

[MickeyD]

I'm just wondering, if and when we go fiber in the distant future, are we still going to witness theft and sabotage of the fiber? Right now, they are all looking for copper. What is after coper? Does fiber have any value to a crook, and scrap yard?

Even if you go fibre there is still some copper involved. There still has to be power feeds and "jumper cables", etc. (copper). And then they still steal the back-up batteries, air-con units, etc. and vandalise whatever remains behind.

The other problem is that placing it underground required pipes and ducts. These f*****s don't know what's in the pipe so they rip it up.... there goes your fibre.

I agree with maumau in that the best way to curb this is to target the scrapyards.

 

[koeksGHT]

bastards

 

[system32]

Extreme Cable / Metal Theft 1

Some examples of Cable / Metal theft from Jhb South

 

[system32]

Extreme Cable / Metal Theft 2

Drains smashed to remove metal

 

[system32]

Extreme Cable / Metal Theft 3

Manhole cover stolen

 

[supersunbird]

The only good criminal is a dead criminal. I don't care their excuse.

And if anyone wants to challenge me go right ahead. A metal thief interviewed on 702 after the building collapsed due to metal theft near the power station in Soweto said he doesn't do it for food, he gets enough food at home, he steals the metal to pay for his drug habit.

 

[TheGuy]

Why don't they declare copper a protected mineral like gold?

 

[atomcrusher]

The only good criminal is a dead criminal.

This of course is the only solution, but it's sad that criminal-culling is illegal

 

[ginggs]

Most of the photos are from wireless sites. Really not easy to get away from the impact of crime.

And this is why wireless network providers don't want to publish lists of their sites.