Copper theft foiled following tip-off
A tip-off led to the arrest of a 49-year-old suspect after a truck transporting suspected stolen copper and other metals valued at nearly R200 000 was stopped near Transnet premises in KwaZulu-Natal.
When police and Transnet officials opened the container on the truck, they found stolen copper cables along with other metals, Ladysmith Gazette reported.
Chief Transnet investigator T Govender identified the stolen cables as belonging to Transnet and having been taken without permission from the Regional Transnet Material Depot. Govender added at least two scrap dealers had bought stolen copper from the suspect. Some of it had already been transported to Durban.
Police and Transnet officials would be travelling to Durban to recover the stolen copper. The suspect appeared in court on Wednesday.
Last month two suspects were arrested after they were found in possession of copper cables in Matshela, Tarlton, in Krugersdorp.
Tarlton police spokesperson Lucky Matome said police were on patrol when they saw the two suspects, one of them carrying a backpack. The suspects ran away after seeing police, who then gave chase on foot.
“The suspects were then arrested. When police opened the backpack, they found copper cables worth approximately R15 000,” added Matome.
– Caxton News Service
Read original story on ladysmithgazette.co.za
