The City’s Metals Theft Unit, have made a number of successful arrests over the past 24 hours.
The Copperheads made a breakthrough in their investigation into metals theft yesterday morning and were able to arrest a suspect at a “bucket shop” in Hanover Park where various stolen items belonging to the City were found.
The suspect had 150 dismantled pieces of water meters (two of which had recently been reported stolen), four intact manhole drain covers, 10 broken pieces of manhole covers and one guard rail panel. A weighting scale used at the bucket shop was also confiscated.
The suspect, who is from the area, was detained at Philippi SAPS on a charge of possession of stolen goods and is to appear in court.
The unit would like to thank the community for its assistance, as well as encourage anyone else with information about similar incidents to report them to their local police station, or to the toll free Metals Theft Hot Line on 0800 222 771.
On Tuesday afternoon, 20 November 2012, members of the City’s Rapid Response Unit were dispatched to the Swartklip Indoor Complex after receiving reports of theft in the area. Upon the arrival of the officers, the perpetrators fled the scene.
With the help of on-duty security staff, they were identified, chased and apprehended.
The suspects were found in possession of cutting utensils that are were used to cut a stolen palisade fence, and were subsequently detained at Mitchells Plain SAPS.
The officers were also successful in the recovery of two sections of palisade fencing from the scene. This will form part of the evidence for prosecution.
