According to the communication officer of the police in Carletonville, WO Peter Masooa, railway security personnel were alerted to someone stealing electrical cables near the Carletonville railway station at around 00:15 on 15 October. The security sent up a drone, which enabled them to spot four suspects in the act of cutting cables.A patrol vehicle raced to the scene, but the suspects scattered upon their arrival. They managed to arrest two of the men, however, and also confiscated their bolt cutter and the stolen cables.In another incident, railway security guards were on patrol when a group of men came up to them at around 18:50 on 17 October.
The suspects tried to persuade the guards to work with them in stealing cables. They promised to share the money with them after they had sold the loot. The security guards agreed to the plan but reported it to their supervisor.
They set up a trap and arrested seven suspects. They also recovered the copper cable the thieves had stolen.
“The security personnel did very well in luring the suspects to their arrest. We appreciate the good working relationship with the security. We will investigate further to see if they are linked to other cases of theft or damage to infrastructure,” said the station commander, Brigadier Marinda Theron.
