Police intercept theft of P20 000 worth of copper cables

Two suspects arrested

Mahalapye police successfully intercepted and retrieved a heap of copper cables valued at P20,000 from a group of thieves last week Thursday evening.

One of the two security guards that were stationed to monitor the cables at Mahalapye power station informed his colleague that evening that he was heading to a nearby shop. In his absence, the remaining guard was attacked by four suspects.

They tied him with a wire strip and loaded all the copper cables into their vehicle before quickly leaving the scene. When the other security guard returned, he found his colleague helpless, his hands tied with wire.

The security officer untied his colleague and promptly reported the matter to the police. Mahalapye Central Police Station Commander, Boitshepo Mudongo, confirmed the incident. She said while attempting to flee the scene, the suspects encountered a roadblock at Bonwapitse bridge, 10 km from Mahalapye.

Without prior knowledge of the incident, the police officers decided to search the vehicle. During the search, they discovered a heap of copper cables inside the vehicle. Upon realising that the police had found the stolen copper cables, the suspects fled into the bush, leaving their vehicle with the traffic police officers at the roadblock.

“The copper cables were returned to the owners, and a search was conducted in the bushes the whole night,” she said.

After long hours of searching, the suspects were eventually arrested. One of the suspects from Old Naledi in Gaborone had called his girlfriend to come and rescue him. Her car was spotted driving through the thick bushes, leading the police to the suspects.