A suspect was arrested for attempted theft and malicious damage after being caught tampering with a communications tower in an attempt to steal metal pieces in the Avoca area yesterday.
At approximately 11h40 the Marshall Security Emergency Dispatch Centre received a call from a client on Matheran Road reporting that they noticed a suspect tampering with a communications tower that is owned by PRASA ( Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa).
Multiple Armed Response Officers immediately responded and arrived on scene to find the suspect high up on the tower attempting to dismantle and steal metal pieces from it. On instruction from our Armed Response Officers to come down from the tower, the suspect started making his way down slowly and then jumped over a nearby wall and fled on foot in an escape attempt. However this did not stop our dedicated Armed Response Officers and after a short foot chase through the dense surrounding bush, the suspect was arrested.
PRASA were informed of the incident and arrived on scene a short while later. The suspect was handed over to the Greenwood Park SAPS and will be facing charges of attempted theft and malicious damage to state infrastructure.
Well done to our dedicated members for their members for another successful arrest!