Two were sentenced on April 13 and the other on October 19.
David Lucas Makwakwa (17), Johan Anton Mondlana (23) and Jose Hlambisi (40) were found guilty of theft and malicious damage to property.
Makwakwa and Mondlana were sentenced to imprisonment for 15 years, and Hlambisi for 10 years.
Crystal Park SAPS acting communications officer Tryna Maritz said the members of the Fairleads Plot Watch were informed by a resident of a power failure in the area, in December last year.
“The members then took a drive around the area, as there had been previous incidents of power failures, during which transformers were damaged and cables stolen,” she added.
The three men were found damaging a transformer on the corner of Sports and Middle roads.
Maritz said the police were informed of the crime and managed to apprehend two men, but the third man managed to run away.
The two suspects were arrested on December 7, last year and the other suspect was recognised in court by one of the accused on April 13.
The Crystal Park SAPS station commander, Lieut-Col Belinda Motaung, and CPF chairperson Paul Riley thanked the investigating officer in the case, WO Richard Bloem, for his sterling work and also the Fairleads Plot Watch for their assistance in the arrests.
The sentences will be served at Modderbee Correctional Services.
Also read: Police come under gunfire, kill suspect
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