The monitoring of scrap metal businesses prevents the market for stolen goods, as one dealer learned the hard way. A 59-year-old scrap metal dealer was arrested, after 120 kilograms of copper was confiscated from his business premises in Makhanda today, 7 March 2022.
Visible Policing members acted on intelligence information about a scrap metal dealer who was alleged to be illegally trading in copper at Zolani, Joza township in Makhanda.
The consignment was already packed and ready to be delivered in Gqeberha this morning when police in possession of a search warrant pounced on the premises. A preliminary investigation revealed that a dealer has contravened the Second-hand Goods Act. Police seized 120 kilograms of copper for further investigation. A 59-year-old man was arrested and is due to appear in Makhanda magistrate’s Court soon on a charge of theft.
Stakeholders like Telkom, Eskom, Transnet, and local municipality were contacted and invited to come and identify some of the copper items that were seized during the arrest.
Sarah Baartmaan District Commander, Brigadier John Lebok commended members for a well-coordinated and swift action resulting to the arrest. Scrap metal dealers have to follow the law and keep registers of all their transactions, he said emphatically. “Each customer must furnish a copy of identity book with address details to the dealer, who in turn has to keep those records in the registers so as to combat theft of copper by unscrupulous thieves and robbers hell-bent on making a quick buck while other community members suffer.”
59-Year-old nabbed with 120 kilograms of illegal copper https://t.co/5K9cnmpqZR #ArriveAlive #IllegalCopper #Enforcement @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/IlBDVAJNLi
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) March 8, 2022
