A copper cable thief exchanged R52 500 worth of loot for a pair of handcuffs on Saturday.
Police had been tipped off about a group of men who were planning to target a section of railway at Umhlali, planning to steal copper cables.
They then staked out the area.
“At about 6am, a group of suspects emerged from the bushes near the railway line,” said provincial Saps spokesperson, Captain Nqobile Gwala.
However, the men spotted the officers and ran back into the bush.
After a search, police arrested a 33-year-old railway security guard for tampering with and damaging essential infrastructure.
He was also in possession of copper cable, estimated to have a street value of about R52 500.
The accused is expected to appear in the KwaDukuza magistrates court this week.
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