NO place to hide for thugs.
Gqeberha police have nabbed 22 suspects on charges of damage to essential infrastructure at the Transnet Electrical Depot in Swartkops.
Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said security guards at the depot spotted trespassers on Monday, 1 September, and alerted the police.
"They responded and after a search, found 22 men hiding in a locomotive with several bags and backpacks filled with stolen property," he said.
Beetge said the items recovered included copper busbars, transformers, electrical switches, copper cables and electrical cables with an estimated value of R350 000.
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"The suspects, aged between 18 and 44, were arrested at the scene and are expected to appear in court soon.
"Swartkops police have made a significant breakthrough when 22 suspects were arrested at around 11.30pm on Monday on the premises of the Transnet Electrical Depot in Swartkops," he said.
Beetge said three backpacks, also containing numerous tools inside, were recovered.
SAPS Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner Major-General Vuyisile Ncata welcomed the arrests and noted that these arrests are breaking into the criminal networks that are responsible for the gradual degradation and failures of our essential infrastructure in the Nelson Mandela Bay area.
