EMPD spokesman Chief Supt Wilfred Kgasago says the truck, with a cargo of copper sheets, was destined for Durban and was hijacked in Ladysmith.
What the perpetrators didn’t know, however, was that the copper sheets were electronically tagged to monitor their movement.
The tracking company, in cooperation with members from the EMPD’s K9 and SWAT Units, traced the stolen copper to a house in Welgedacht.
On approaching the house, several men took off on foot but one suspect, who climbed onto the roof of the house in an effort to hide from police, was apprehended.
Kgasago says they found copper sheets at the property linked to the truck robbery.
It is believed one sheet of copper weighs between 30kg and 50kg.
Over and above the recovered copper sheets, numerous new tyres suspected to have been the cargo from a truck that was hijacked near Germiston, in June, were also recovered.
A manhunt has been launched for all the suspects at large.
Springs police spokesman Capt Johannes Ramphora confirms a 25-year-old man was arrested and remains in custody at the Springs police cells.
