Steely police unearth metal thieves
BRIGHTON Beach SAP officers arrested two men in possession of stolen stainless steel pipes in Jacobs on the morning of Friday, 16 August.
A three-man team of policemen set up observation points at various scrap metal dealerships in the area in an initiative set-up by Brighton Beach SAP second hand goods law enforcement officer, Warrant Officer Anton Van Der Merwe.
W/O Robert Dean, who was at an observation point on Chamberlain Road, noted a man carrying a heavy cylinder-shaped object covered in brown paper, near a scrap metal dealership. A second man soon joined the first, carrying the same covered object. The policeman called for assistance and W/O Van der Merwe who was watching another scrap metal dealership responded.
The officers spoke to the two men, aged 18 and 20, and examined the two pipes, which were stainless steel and about 20cm in diameter and 1.2 metres long. Neither of them could prove ownership of the pipes, nor could they clearly explain how they came to possess them.
They were charged with theft and appeared in Durban Court on Monday, 19 August before being placed back in police custody pending further investigation. It was determined one of the men was employed at the scrap metal dealership they were near and they had planned to sell the items to the dealership.
Police are searching for the owner of the pipes, which bear serial numbers. Anyone able to prove ownership should call W/O Dean on 031-451-8070.
Brighton Beach SAP management congratulates W/Os Dean and Van Der Merwe and Captain Sarel Kruger on a successful operation, which led to the arrest of two thieves and the recovery of stolen property.
