The Kagiso Police recently arrested a 25-year-old man after he allegedly had broken into a church and stole 18 chairs.

A church is a holy place that we must respect and protect, but there are individuals who see this holy structure as an opportunity to launch their evil attacks to satisfy their needs and greed,” Captain Solomon Sibiya said in a statement.

The man stole the chairs on 10 January 2017 and the Kagiso Police asked the community at the time to contact them should they have any information regarding the incident.

A breakthrough in the case came on 1 September this year when church elders saw a man at a playground selling chairs similar to the ones that had been stolen at the church three years ago.

“They alerted the complainant who called the police and the suspect was apprehended,” Sibiya said.

The suspect was taken to the Kagiso Police Station and appeared in the Kagiso Magistrates’ Court where he was remanded in custody pending further investigation.

The police requested anyone with information about those who assisted the man in committing the crime to contact Kagiso Police on 011 696 9000, 011 696 9059, 011 696 9065 or 011 696 9067. The public can also use the Crime Stop line on 08600 10111 or use the SMS line on 32211 or the My SAPS app to stay anonymous.