Your article, "Thieves With no Shame" (Fox, June 8-14), raises the question: where are the cops?
The copper piping stolen from Charlotte Maxeke hospital is but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to looting and the trade in stolen goods.
I know the expression "police intelligence" is something of an oxymoron, but surely it’s not too difficult to track down the scumbags who buy and resell stolen goods? After all, you can’t simply shove lengths of copper cable, dismantled steel structures and other heavy items into a shopping bag and stroll down the street to the nearest scrap metal dealer. Such goods have to be transported on public roads.
The inevitable conclusion is that police officers of various ranks are paid to look the other way, or "lose" dockets. Perhaps police minister Bheki Cele should reprioritise his thinking when it comes to serious crime — once he has put down the outburst of criminality nominally associated with the "Free Zuma" movement, of course.
Wishful thinking?
Clive Kihn
Durbanville
The FM welcomes concise letters from readers. They can be sent to fmmail@fm.co.za