It is extremely difficult to effectively prosecute copper thieves. Only 7% of those arrested are convicted . The other 93% have to be released because ownership - and therefore theft - cannot be proven.

80% of copper thieves are repeat offenders. Thieves therefore remain free to carry on stealing cables.

Stealing cables from essential infrastructure - like systems providing power, transport, water, sanitation, and communication - is a specific crime.

If the original location of the cable can proven to be stolen from essential infrastructure, individuals face up to 30 years in prison. Corporate entities can face fines up to R100m.

Stolen electrical cables are routinely burnt to get rid of insulation and to effectively destroy all existing identification measures. This prevents authorities from proving cable ownership  and origin – and therefore that a theft has taken place.

Stolen cable copper is also routinely granulated to destroy the possibility of owner identification and effectively prevent conviction.

Our microdots survive the granulation of copper cables. The original cable owner and location can still be verified after granulation.

To remove all traces of ownership thieves granulate the stolen copper. This involves breaking the copper in the cable up into small granules or pellets. This makes it impossible to trace the cable back to its owner or or original location. CableDNA technologies make this practice impossible.