Four Egyptians and four South Africans were arrested yesterday in Illovo, KZN, for their suspected involvement in a copper cable theft syndicate that was about to transport stolen cables.

South Coast Sun reports that the cables, worth R2m, are suspected to have been stolen from eThekwini Municipality and Telkom.

ET Rapid Response’s Tony Lokker says his company’s tactical response team received information of suspicious activity at a storage facility in the area around 10:20. The ET Response Unit responded with Community Crime Prevention Organisation Amanzimtoti and Amanzimtoti police station’s Crime Prevention Unit.

“On their arrival, several people fled the scene into the sugar cane fields, while eight suspects were apprehended. Umzinto Police Station’s K9 Unit and other members went to search for the remaining suspects who, unfortunately, evaded capture,” says Lokker.

A truck full of the stolen copper was found in the storage complex’s premises, and Lokker says information gathered from the suspects indicated that the illicit cargo was about to be transported to Johannesburg.

Four cars, two trucks and eight tons of copper were seized. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.

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