Two Port Pirie men have been arrested after they allegedly stole a significant amount of copper cabling, which also knocked out local phones lines at Solomontown in the State’s Mid-North yesterday.
Early on Thursday morning 28 February, Port Pirie police were advised over 400 residents at Solomontown had lost landline phone connections as a direct result of large amount copper and lead cables been dug up and stolen from underground access areas. The cost of repair and replacement was believed to be in excess of $30,000.
At about 11.30pm last night, Port Pirie patrols were checking an area around Warnertown Road, the vicinity of where the theft of the cable had occurred, when they located two men hiding in a car.
A search of the car uncovered a number of tools suspected to have been used in the theft of the cabling. Both men were then arrested.
On further investigation, Detectives from Port Pirie CIB searched a residence allegedly locating lead and copper cabling inside a shed, plus tools and equipment used to melt the cable.
The two men aged 36 and 47-years-old both from Port Pirie were charged with theft, property damage, going equipped to commit an offence and breach of bail.
They men were refused police bail and will appear in the Port Pirie Magistrates Court later today.
A 44-year-old woman was also reported for unlawful possession and will be summonsed to appear in the Port Pirie Magistrates Court at a later date.
