Three men, aged 33 to 44, were arrested on May 10, on charges of being in possession of R8m worth of stolen copper plates.

According to Benoni Flying Squad (BFS) spokesperson Warrant Officer Grant Giblin, three trucks carrying copper cathodes were hijacked on the R21 highway near Oliefantsfontein, after the convoy of five trucks stopped together after one of the trucks suffered a breakdown.

“At about 10:00 the following day, a security company alerted BFS that one of the suspected hijacked trucks had been recovered in Voortrekker Road, Kempton Park,” he said.

“A 44-year-old man was arrested. Further information led officers to a plot on Second Avenue, Putfontein, where two men were found off-loading copper cathode plates from a truck trailer.”

A total of 1 075 copper plates, valued at R8m, were recovered and were identified as those taken from the trucks on the R21.

“A search of the property also led to the discovery of a blue Volkswagen Polo, which was reported as stolen in 2019, as well as a white Actros truck, which was reported as hijacked last year,” said Giblin.

“The suspects have appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court facing charges of possession of robbed goods and possession of hijacked vehicle.”

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