Arrested cable thieves to appear in court
The arrest followed after the officers received a tip-off from a source who sent photographs of the suspects, then an investigation ensued.
The three suspects that were arrested for stealing copper cables on the corner of SADC- and Klip Street by the Steve Tshwete Law Enforcement Officers are due to appear in court today.
The suspects allegedly dug, cut and stole a three-kilogram copper cable and sold the cables to Extra Waste Group at Meyer Street.
According to MMC for Community Safety, Cllr Bathobile Shabangu, “During the search and trace operation, they were positively identified using the photographs received from the source and the male suspect was located at Medina in Weeber Street in Eastdene.
“The suspect then led the officers to 25A Witch Street where they found three suspect males, in possession of copper implements, torches, electrical tester, screw drivers, chain blog, scissor cutter and a jig saw.
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“The suspects led the officers to where they sold the copper. The suspects also implicated another male suspect, who was caught at 20 Blackmore Street in possession of 3 kg Telkom copper and was in the process of burning it and cropping it.
“Upon arrival at the scrapyard, the male suspect pointed out the buyer who bought the stolen goods and the male suspect pointed out the Telkom copper cable that he sold to the scrapyard, too.
“The scrapyard buyer was also arrested and charged with Contravening Second Hand Goods Act and received stolen goods,” said Cllr Shabangu.
The other suspects were arrested and charged with damaging of infrastructure and the theft of Telkom copper cables.
The suspects were transported to SAPS Middelburg where they were formally charged.
The suspects will appear in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court today.
