A team of dedicated off-duty police officers scored a major victory against infrastructure crime, intercepting a truck loaded with suspected stolen copper cable valued at over R1.8m on Wednesday evening.
Free State Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane explained that members of the Fezile Dabi District Infrastructure Task Team received a tip-off during their rest days about a truck carrying copper cables from Welkom. The information further suggested that the vehicle was due to collect even more copper from a known scrapyard in Kroonstad.
Without hesitation, the officers mobilised and tracked the truck along the N1. The vehicle was successfully intercepted shortly after passing the Vaal Toll Plaza while heading towards Gauteng.
Upon a preliminary inspection of the cargo, officers discovered that the first container was loaded with bags of copper cables. The truck and its occupants were then escorted to Sasolburg SAPS for further investigation.
A more thorough search at the police station revealed a second container concealing additional copper cables hidden beneath bags filled with crushed aluminium cans.
Covane said two men, aged 27 and 59, were arrested. They are facing charges of tampering with and damaging essential infrastructure, possession of suspected stolen property, and possession of suspected stolen copper cables. The suspects are expected to appear in the Parys Magistrate’s Court soon.
