Arthur Thobela (30), an alleged alarm beam thief, was denied bail in Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on August 26.
Thobela was arrested after he was found in possession of a suspected stolen beam on Leslie Street in Birchleigh during the early hours of August 25.
Sgt Johanna Madiga, spokesperson for Norkem Park SAPS, said the bail application was not granted as Thobela’s address couldn’t be confirmed and to allow further investigations to establish whether there were pending cases against him.
Marco Taljaard, reaction officer from Sec Pros, assisted in the arrest of Thobela.
“It was around 4.30am when an alarm from one of our clients went off,” said Sec Pros’ Gerald Groenewald.
“We were informed that one of their beams had been stolen and when Taljaard was on his way to respond to the alarm, he spotted the suspect, stopped and searched him. He found the stolen beam in a bag he was carrying.”
It was discovered Thobeka could be linked to other beam thefts as he was caught on CCTV footage stealing another beam at a house on Ysterhout Avenue in Birchleigh.
Thobela wore the same ‘green’ jacket when stealing the beams. It is also alleged he told the investigating officer they sold the beams to a man in Johannesburg who allegedly uses the powder in the beams.
Madiga said most beam theft cases reported were in Birchleigh and Birchleigh North. Residents are urged to be more alert and protect their beams.
