THE couple caught on video footage stealing a manhole cover was arrested on Tuesday morning, revealing to police a history of similar crimes.
Engela Smith (30) and Stephen Gruindeling (29) briefly appeared in Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Thursday in connection with theft. The case was remanded until November 4.
They were released on their own responsibility.
The couple admitted to police to regularly selling manhole covers to support their drug addiction and led police to an illegal scrap yard at 30 North Rand Road in Kempton Park.
Smith and Gruindeling were tracked down through the CCTV footage provided by SoundXperience on Monument Road where they stole the cover on Sunday.
According to Capt Jethro Mtshali, W/O André Ferreira and Sgt Carriem Schultz arrested the couple at 5am at their Birchleigh home.
“The woman’s father, who is also the owner of the car, gave the officers information on where they lived,” Mtshali said.
Police found more manhole covers and burglar bars at the complex where the couple lived.
Ferreira and Schultz followed up on information supplied by the suspects, which led them to where they sold the manhole cover.
Upon arrival, they discovered, along with metro police officers, that the scrap yard was operating illegally as the land is owned by the metro.
On the property was a range of stolen property, including manhole covers belonging to the municipality as well as privately owned covers, water meters and copper cables. Dicing machines were also discovered, which cost about R4 000 each.
“The manhole covers are sold for between R40 and R50 a cover,” Ferreira said.
