Cape Town - Eight suspects believed to have links with Cape Flats gang Hard Livings were recently arrested by the City of Cape Town’s Metals Theft Unit.
“This is a significant bust because Mitchells Plain has been on the Copperheads’ hotspot list for some time with little success in catching the perpetrators,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith on Tuesday.
The Metal Thefts Unit, nicknamed “Copperheads”, was set up by the City in 2007 to combat the theft of non-ferrous metals, such as copper. Following a tip-off from a member of the public, the Copperheads arrested the eight suspects for “malicious intent to property”.
The arrest took place in Eastridge, Mitchells Plain where one of the suspects, all males between the ages of 28 and 32-years-old, resided.
Upon arrest, the suspects were found in possession of a hacksaw, shovel, and an axe. They were detained at Mitchells Plain police station for further investigation and processing.
Also arrested on Monday - this time by the City’s Metro Police Gang and Drug Task Team – was the son of a well-known “highflyer” in Hanover Park.
The 20-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of ammunition and a large quantity of heroine. The drugs were worth an estimated R175 000.
The confiscated items were found in a pigeon cage by the task team following a tip-off from the public.
“We want to commend the members for their swift reaction upon receiving the information and for a job well done and we want to encourage the public to report any illegal activities in their neighbourhoods to the police” said Smith.
ANA