At approximately 08.30 on Friday, the Marshall Security emergency contact centre received a signal for a fence alarm at premises in Effingham. Armed response officers were immediately dispatched and on arrival, it was noted that the electric fence had been damaged and noises could be heard coming from the rear of the property.
The response officer jumped the fence and conducted a thorough search of the premises. A male suspect was found hiding in the rear of the property in an attempt to evade arrest.
The man was found with various items of copper cabling in his possession and was arrested on site.
The suspect was handed over to the South African Police Services for further investigation and processing.