Copper theft sting nets 5

2003-07-11 20:08

Vereeniging - Five security guards were arrested on charges of copper cable theft in a "sting operation" at De Deur in the Vaal triangle on Friday, police said.

Vaal Rand police spokesperson Thabo Seete said information was received that guards were stealing copper cable from the Lexus scrapyard at Elandsfontein, and a sting operation was mounted.

Police officers posing as thieves drove a truck into the yard about midnight and waited until the five guards had loaded some four tons of cable worth about R50 000 onto the truck with a crane before revealing themselves.

Seete said three of the guards surrendered immediately but two tried to run away, firing at police who responded by firing warning shots and releasing a dog.

No-one was hit by bullets but one of the fleeing men was brought down and badly bitten by the dog. The man was treated at the scene before being taken into custody at De Deur with his four colleagues, Seete said.

Theo Williams the general manager of Commander Force, the security company that employs the guards, told Sapa: "I feel the alleged thieves were very badly treated - the man was badly bitten and we would consider some sort of legal action. The police have a right to do sting operations but there is a possibility that these men were set up by business rivals and we are considering what action we can take," he said.

The arrested men would appear on Monday in the Vereeniging Magistrate's Court in connection with the theft of copper cable and attempted murder, Seete said.

- SAPA