BOTHAVILLE -The Bothaville police in the Free State have arrested four suspects in connection with rampant vandalism of electrical infrastructure and copper cable theft plaguing the region. The suspects, aged between 33 and 48, were intercepted while traveling on the R30 road in a Ford Ranger.
Police made the significant arrest on Friday, 17 April and seized copper cables, including counterfeit goods. Police have seized the luxury vehicle as part of the investigation.
Sgt Palesa Thabana, provincial police spokesperson, said officers received intelligence about a vehicle whose occupants were allegedly involved in copper cable theft across various policing precincts.
“Members spotted the vehicle fitting the description and stopped it on the R30 road near the traffic department. Upon searching the vehicle, burned copper cable and counterfeit goods were found loaded inside,” Thabana said. The officers seized 124kg of copper cables with an estimated value of R11 160, along with counterfeit goods of undisclosed value.
The suspects remain in custody and are expected to appear in the Bothaville Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of possession of copper cable and possession of counterfeit goods.
