Joint operation nabs 60-year-old for stolen City Power property.

Joint operation nabs 60-year-old for stolen City Power property. Image: Facebook/Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department

Joint operation nabs 60-year-old for stolen City Power property

Authorities successfully apprehended a 60-year-old individual suspected of being involved in the theft of City Power property.

Joint operation nabs 60-year-old for stolen City Power property.

Joint operation nabs 60-year-old for stolen City Power property. Image: Facebook/Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department

In a collaborative effort by multiple law enforcement agencies, a 60-year-old female was apprehended in Rietsfontein, Orange Farm, for the possession of suspected stolen property, including transformers and copper cable belonging to City Power.

The operation, executed on Thursday, 7 December 2023, was initiated following intelligence received about the owner of the Lehae La Bafokeng Palace and Resort allegedly holding stolen City Power assets at a Rietsfontein plot.

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The information suggested that unknown individuals had delivered the stolen property, intending to relocate it to an undisclosed location.

Stolen City Power property

Upon reaching the specified location, a joint team comprising members from the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) Tactical Response and Public Order Policing Unit, Johannesburg District Crime Intelligence, SAPS Gauteng Highway Patrol, PRASA Business Investigation Unit, ADC Security Services, and BPC FNB Investigators. Discovered and seized two transformers, one intact ABC 500m cable drum, approximately 500 ABC cables, an empty cable drum, and ten street lights, all suspected to belong to City Power.

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City Power officials estimated the confiscated property to be worth around R3 000 000.00 and confirmed its ownership.

The suspect, a 60-year-old woman, claimed to have purchased the stolen items from an unnamed individual, alleged to be a subcontractor at City Power. Subsequently, the suspect was arrested and detained at Orange Farm SAPS.

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Case docket has been opened

An official case docket has been opened for further investigation, and the suspect is expected to appear in court soon.

JMPD Acting Chief of Police, Angie Mokasi, commended the collaborative efforts of the involved agencies, emphasising the importance of community involvement in reporting such crimes.

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“The community is our eyes and ears; these crimes happen within the neighborhoods, and they know who the perpetrators are. That is why we always encourage them to report,” said Mokasi.

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