On the 7th of June 2018, Members of SAPS K9 Unit arrested a 41 year old suspect after an exchange of fire during the early morning hours.
This followed after the K9 Unit members responded to a theft in progress alert at a cell phone tower in Nkabalaza Street, Kwadwesi at 02:40. On their arrival they spotted a white VW Golf with four occupants that attempted to flee from police. The vehicle collided with a wooden lamp post and all four suspects got out of the vehicle and started shooting at the police members. The two police members returned fire, and managed to arrest one of the suspects. The other three managed to evade arrest and fled on foot. Nobody were injured during the exchange of fire.
Inside the vehicle, four cell phone tower backup batteries were found, and close to the tower another six batteries were found hidden in a bushy area. The approximate value of these batteries are about R36 000. The 41 year old suspect will be charged for theft and possession of stolen property. He will be appearing in the New Brighton Magistrates Court on 8 June 2018.
The Motherwell Cluster Commander, Major General Dawie Rabie have applauded the arrest and added “our community needs to assist police in identifying these suspects. These thefts can affect cell phone users’ connection to the cell phone networks and we need to work together to get these thieves off the streets and behind bars.”
Suspect arrested red handed with cell phone tower batteries https://t.co/mq4akpLwK6 #ArriveAlive @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/dD1dOTsRHM
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) June 7, 2018
