Five suspects nabbed, stolen copper cable recovered

Police arrested five suspects and recovered suspected stolen copper cable during an intelligence driven operation in the Free State on Wednesday.

SAPS regional spokesperson, Captain Malebo Khosana, said that police had arrested the suspects after following up on intelligence that they had received about the crime.

“Intelligence driven information led to the arrest of five suspects for allegedly being in possession of suspected stolen copper cable on the T- Junction at R82 and R549 near Zamdel,” Khosana said.

Khosana said that on Tuesday, 09 November 2021 at about 08:05 the Fezile Dabi District Task team, TRT, Trio, K-9 and CIG team had followed up on information received from Eastern Cape Provincial SAPS about a suspected, Toyota Fortuner (silver) which had allegedly been used to commit crimes in their province. 

“It was further alleged that the vehicle had five occupants inside who were suspected to have been the culprits behind these criminal activities,” Khosana said

“The members followed up on the information until they managed to identify the suspected silver Toyota Fortuner. Upon searching the vehicle they discovered that the intelligence driven information they had earlier received was positive,” Khosana said.

Copper cable recovered, five suspects to appear in court

Khosana said police recovered suspected stolen copper cable with an estimated market value of R158 000.

“They arrested five suspects aged between 25 and 43 who were the occupants in the vehicle,” Khosana said.

SAPS Brigadier Mapulane Mbeloane commended on the detectives’ inter-provincial team work.

“We are one organisation, as the members of Eastern Cape SAPS truly showed, and we have our communities’ best interests at heart. We cannot just sit and turn a blind eye when these perpetrators are travelling freely from one province to the other conducting their criminal deeds. This should send a strong message that the arm of the law cannot be measured and one will be put behind bars if found guilty,” Mbeloane said.

The five men are expected to appear in he Sasolburg Magistrate Court where they will face charges of being in possession of stolen property on Thursday 11 November 2021.