The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (Sacci’s) Copper Theft Barometer increased to R13.2-million in October – 43% higher than in October 2013.

The barometer had increased from R13-million in September and R12-million in August and recorded its fifth monthly increase for this year in October.

Further, the Copper Theft Volume Indicator had increased to 176 metric tons in October, compared with 173 metric tons the month before.

“The increase in October is a worrying signal that copper theft may be on the increase over the short to medium term.

“The recent increases in copper theft suggest an upward trend has taken hold. This is certainly a setback from the good work done in driving down the crime trajectory from 2012 to 2013,” Sacci stated.

It added that municipal finances were being placed under severe strain to fight copper theft and to replace stolen copper cables, particularly as the broader replacement cost was normally multiples of the value of the actual material that was stolen.