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- Ten people have been taken into custody in the Free State for the alleged theft of diesel.
- They are believed to have robbed a truck on the N5.
- Police confiscated at least 100 litres of diesel during the arrests.
Ten people have been arrested in connection with the theft of diesel from a truck in the Free State.
They were arrested after police at a roadblock on the N3 in Harrismith received a tip-off on Tuesday about an armed group who allegedly robbed a truck of diesel on the N5 near Kestell.
"[The] Park Road, Selosesha and Phuthaditjhaba Tactical Response Team, Welkom and Bethlehem K9 Units and Anti-Gang Unit were alerted to be on the lookout for a black Audi sedan that was [involved] in the commission of [the] crime," police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said.
The vehicle was spotted on the N5 and intercepted.
READ | Four suspects arrested for allegedly stealing diesel from Mpumalanga Transnet pipeline
"The vehicle, with two occupants, was found with diesel containers and a hosepipe used to drain diesel. Upon questioning the duo, further information led the police to the Intabazwe informal settlement near the N3, where an additional four suspects were arrested," Makhele said.
Police officers searched the premises and found a white Toyota bakkie allegedly used for the transportation of the stolen diesel. They also found three tower batteries, three solar panels, three truck tyres, a generator and four containers with a 25-litre capacity containing diesel. All recovered items were confiscated.
Following the arrests, police investigations led officers to four more suspects in Kestell.
"Some of the arrested suspects may possibly be linked to two alleged serious crimes that took place over the weekend in Harrismith," Makhele said.
"All ten suspects are expected to appear before the Harrismith Magistrate's Court soon facing charges of possession of suspected stolen property and armed robbery," Makhele added.
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