Chrome thieves caught

MECKLENBURG – The battle against illegal mining intensified when Mecklenburg SAPS arrested two suspects for theft of unprocessed chrome on September 14. The incident happened in Tjibeng Village at midnight. According to police the two suspects were caught red handed, loading the precious metals into a tipper truck. “After being tipped off police officers rushed to the scene and found one tipper truck loaded with chrome. There was a Toyota double-cab bakkie escorting the truck,” said spokesman for Mecklenburg SAPS, Sgt Kgalake Mampuru. The police revealed to Steelburger/Lydenburg News that the street value of the chrome was R60 000. “The arrested suspects appeared in Mecklenburg Periodical Court on the same day. They were both granted R1 000 bail. The dockets are still being investigated by the organised crime unit,” Mampuru added. The two suspects will reappear in court on October 18. Mampuru said that Mecklenburg police are running an ongoing operation to eradicate illegal mining in Tubatse.