On Monday morning, 13 August 2018, at about 10:00, Mitchell’s Plain SAPS members executed an integrated operation focussing on cable theft and Second Hand Goods Control in conjunction with Law Enforcement (Copper Heads) and the SAPS Rapid Rail Unit. Together they targeted several scrap metal dealers and recyclers adjacent to the Mitchell’s Plain railway line, also including the Mitchell’s Plain CBD, Beacon Valley and Tafelsig.
During the operation, five places were searched, which included four scrap metal dealers and a recycler’s premises. These premises were searched for copper suspected to be stolen from infrastructure belonging to PRASA and the City of Cape Town. At about 11:40 the members conducted a compliance inspection at a scrap metal dealer in Francis Street, Tafelsig, where they found four white doors and a bonnet allegedly belonging to a double cab bakkie, which was later found abandoned behind a primary school in the Wolfgat Nature Reserve.
A 54-year-old woman was arrested for possession of presumably stolen property and a fine was issued to the value of R1500 for failing to record the personal details of the seller in the Second Hand Goods register.
Upon further investigation the police members found a Mazda double cab LDV which was being stripped and they arrested two suspects, a 27-year-old man and a 16-year-old minor, who were busy stripping the vehicle. The members also confiscated a red VW Golf which was used to transport the vehicle parts. Several vehicle parts belonging to the double cab LDV were found inside the VW Golf.
All these suspects will appear in the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrates’ Court soon, on charges relating to the possession of presumably stolen property.
Integrated operations of this kind are executed continuously in all areas to increase police visibility and to stop the theft of precious infrastructure which ensures that commuters can travel safely.
