BLOEMFONTEIN – Members of the Bloemfontein Police Flying Squad have arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with a stolen aluminium marquee tent valued at R500 000, while it was being transported to the Eastern Cape.

Capt. Loraine Earle, spokesperson for the Free State police, said the truck used to transport the property was confiscated as part of the investigation. She said the suspect’s arrest on Saturday 1 August at about 16:30 followed a swift response to information received about the stolen tent being transported.

“The 30-year-old driver was allegedly hired to transport the tent to Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape. He was arrested for possession of suspected stolen property on the R702 Dewetsdorp Road. The complainant positively identified the freestanding aluminium marquee tent to the value of R500 000 as his stolen property,” said Earle. She added that the recovered property was returned to its lawful owner after the completion of the necessary police procedures.

She said members visited the location where the tent had allegedly been loaded after receiving information about the theft.

Earle said the suspect was remanded in custody and is expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court soon, facing a charge of possession of suspected stolen property.