Members of group 2 of the Kathu Crime prevention unit led by Sgt Ben Eiman inclusive of Constables Blythe Jantjes, Beatriz Canchibatho and Tswarelo Moleme clamped down on suspected copper thieves on Saturday, 17 July 2021.

At 17:50 the team responded to a complaint of copper theft at the Kathu Village Mall. Upon their arrival, they consulted with security guards who caught the suspect stealing the copper wire. The members viewed the CCTV video footage and confirmed that it was indeed the suspect.

At 18:20 the 25-year-old male was arrested and copper wire valued at R500-00 was found in his possession.

After interrogating the suspect, he led the members to the New Stands informal settlement in Mapoteng where he allegedly sold the copper cable for R140:00.

On their arrival at the specified location the members discovered a store room full of copper cables. When the house owner failed to produce any documentation for the copper cable, the 65-year-old owner was then arrested for possession of copper cables.

The members confiscated the copper cables with an estimated value of R7000-00.

The alertness of members led then to a second house behind the second suspect’s house where they spotted copper cables and after questioning the owner, who was also unable to provide documents , arrested the 36 year old male for possession of suspected stolen copper cables with an estimated value of R10 000-00.

The three suspects will soon appear in the Kathu Magistrates court on charges of possession of copper cables.

The Kathu Acting Station Commander, Capt Brendell commended the team for their thorough investigation which led to the apprehension of more suspects and recovery of the copper cables.

Possession of stolen goods is a crime, help SAPS arrest thieves and buyers and retrieve the stolen goods.

Source: South African Police Service