Four suspects were arrested after they were caught by PRASA security personnel stealing railway cables in Goodwood on Thursday, January 6.
According to a statement by Metrorail, security personnel was driving along the N1 from Belville to Cape Town when they noticed a suspect pulling electrical cables next to an informal settlement.
“The Security team stopped on the side of the road and approached the suspect. The suspect proceeded to dump the cable in an attempt to get rid of the evidence and ran away crossing over the N1 freeway.
“The Security team proceeded to investigate the scene of the crime and found an additional four more suspects in the act of illegally digging and pulling Metrorail cables from the ground. One of the suspects jumped the wall and fled while the other three suspects were caught,” the statement said.
Also read: Metrorail lay charges against CT youths for stoning new train
The statement further mentioned that, while the security team was awaiting back-up from the team deployed at Monte Vista, they received word that the Goodwood Neighborhood Watch and a private security company had apprehended the one suspect who had previously escaped.
“PRASA Security found the members of the Goodwood Neighbourhood watch already at the police station with the suspect unharmed. Four suspects were taken to the Goodwood Police Station,” Metrorail said.
Metrorail’s Regional Manager in the Western Cape, Richard Walker added that the joint arrests and apprehensions were not planned, however, worked perfectly.
“The criminals learnt a big lesson that PRASA Security, Railway Police, Private Security and most especially, our Neighbourhood Watch groups and communities will not allow the senseless destruction and criminality against rail infrastructure,” Walker said.
Meanwhile, the suspects were detained at the Goodwood Police Station and were charged under the Criminal Amendments Act 18/2015 for tampering, damaging, the destruction of essential infrastructure.
Read more:
CT Hawks now investigating the circumstances around the Parliament blaze
Picture: Metrorail