The Hawks Port Shepstone Serious Organised Crime Investigation and Port Shepstone K9 Units arrested three suspects on the N2 on Tuesday this week when they found cellphone network batteries that were reported stolen.
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Information was received of a van travelling on the N2 to Port Shepstone loaded with a number of cellphone tower batteries.
The Hawks together with Port Shepstone K9 and the Local Criminal Record Centre immediately responded to the information and the bakkie was located around the Hibberdene area where police noticed five suspects offloading batteries at an outbuilding of a scrapyard.
As police approached the property, two suspects fled and three suspects aged between 26 and 35 were arrested on the scene for possession of stolen goods.
The members recovered 48 cellphone tower batteries – 24 Vodacom batteries and 24 colide batteries weighing around 90kg each – to the value of R480 000 and the bakkie estimated at R280 000 which was reported stolen in Berea. The van has since been impounded.
The suspects are scheduled to appear in the Turton District Court in Hibberdene today (Thursday) and are expected to face charges relating to possession of stolen goods.
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