Community teamwork leads to wanted Pinetown copper thief arrest

Strong teamwork between a vigilant community patroller and a Blue Security armed response officer led to the recovery of stolen goods and the arrest of a wanted Pinetown copper thief, who is allegedly responsible for a string of copper theft incidents in the area.

Blue Security tactical ambassador, Russel Lawson, said that a Pinetown Neighbourhood Watch patroller had spotted the suspect pushing a wheelbarrow along the M13 and alerted the firm to the sighting.
“The suspect was seen pushing a wheelbarrow along the M13, walking towards the Stapleton Road offramp. Our officer responded to the community member’s request for assistance at the scene and the suspect was then found walking in Stapleton Road near Sandy Centre where he was arrested. Four steel car rims, a fridge compressor, a power transformer, a floodlight and copper pipes and taps were recovered in the wheelbarrow,” Lawson said.
“The arrest of this suspect is a great success for us and the community as he is allegedly wanted for a number of incidents of copper theft in the Pinetown area.  We are hope that justice is swiftly served in this case and that this arrest sends the message to criminals that they will be caught and arrested for crimes committed in our neighbourhood,” he said.
Lawson said the stolen goods and the suspect were handed over to the Pinetown SAPS at the scene.