Three suspects, aged between 30 and 47, were caught after allegedly stealing diesel during a business robbery at an energy depot in Mkhondo (formerly Piet Retief) in Mpumalanga.

The Anti Crime Security Unit (Acsu) in Piet Retief and Ermelo achieved a significant breakthrough as their CCTV control room detected a suspicious diesel tanker at an off-site monitoring site.

Attempts to contact the on-site guard went unanswered, prompting the deployment of a response unit to the diesel depot.

According to police, four employees were allegedly tied up with shoelaces and locked in a guardroom.

On monitoring the CCTV feed, four suspects were identified.

Shortly afterward, the response unit as well as police were dispatched to the depot and found the suspects draining diesel from a depot tanker into the truck.

Two suspects were arrested, while two others managed to flee.

During the interrogation, one of the suspects revealed the involvement of a getaway vehicle.

Acsu Piet Retief Tactical Response swiftly activated the Acsu Ermelo Tactical Response Unit in the search for a black GTI with Lesotho registration plates.

After 20 minutes of investigation, the police and Acsu spotted the vehicle outside Ermelo, resulting in a chase that led to Ermelo.

A reaction team from ACSU Ermelo blocked off the road, and the suspect was subsequently arrested and found in possession of a firearm.

“This successful operation by Acsu Mpumalanga has dealt a significant blow to one of the largest diesel theft syndicates in the area,” says Bester Maree from Acsu.