Shots fired as three arrested for cable theft

Police arrested three suspects in collaboration with the Boskop community, Peri Peri Community Security and CB Security. The incident happened at approximately 06:00 on Friday, 22 March, when community members informed business owners about suspects burning stolen cables on a premises.
The community members who alerted business owners in the area are part of Peri Peri Security. They informed CB Security, the security provider in the area, and the police.
A business owner said they heard gunshots once CB Security arrived. Suspects fled, and community members alongside CB Security chased down and detained three suspects until the police arrived. The police then pursued a further two suspects, one possibly armed, with their K-9 unit and a helicopter.
CB Security manager Deon O’Kelly said the authorities found a stolen white Toyota Hilux and approximately R290,000 worth of copper cables, weighing 2.9 tons, on the scene. “The copper is worth around half a million rand, but because the suspects had burnt it, they reduced the value,” he explains.

Business owners are thankful to the community for their efforts to protect the area. “The property where they found the suspects and copper, including Boskop train station, is a hotspot for crime in the area,” a business owner remarked. “We had a meeting after the incident, and community members said they wanted to burn down the house on the property to root out the crime in our community.”

“This situation has been brewing in our area for a long time,” the business owner added. “A big thank you to the community for their efforts, CB Security for their rapid response, and the police for apprehending the suspects.”
Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani said the police are investigating a case of possession of suspected stolen property. She added the three suspects appeared in the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 25 March and will appear again on 3 April.