Four plumbers have been arrested for stealing connection cables belonging to Togocom and Togolaise des eaux (TdE) companies. They were caught red-handed by the police officers from the Kpalimé police station.
Following numerous complaints about repeated thefts of cables and meters in the Kpégolonou neighborhood, the Kpalimé police station launched an operation that has now been successful. Law enforcement managed to apprehend four individuals. The arrested individuals have been identified as Atolo Atcheketao (33 years old) from Tové, considered the mastermind of the group, as well as Togamba Bayidiwena (28 years old) from Adéticopé, Etoh Yaovi (34 years old) from Adidogomé, and Badjipo Bonfoh (34 years old) from Agbalépédo. All the suspects were passing through Kpalimé and had previously worked for the company E-PLUS, which specializes in installing connection cables and pipes for TdE, during road rehabilitation works in the city.
To perpetrate their criminal acts, the wrongdoers disguised themselves as workers, wearing vests and helmets for protection to act in broad daylight without arousing suspicion. Their modus operandi involved digging holes to cut and steal the connection cables, which they then resold to a receiver named Djiwa Tchakpala, residing in the Kpogandzi neighborhood.
These thefts of connection cables not only caused disruptions in Togocom and TdE services but also resulted in financial losses for the affected companies. The copper obtained from the stolen cables was later illegally sold on the black market.
Following their arrest, they will be presented to the public prosecutor who will ultimately decide their fate in the coming days.
