Five Suspects Arrested After Armed Robbery At Tshwane Electricity Depot

Five suspects were arrested following an armed robbery at a City of Tshwane electricity depot in Forsig, Pretoria West, after a rapid response operation by the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) on Thursday, 14 May 2026.

According to the TMPD Communication Unit, officers from Region 3 Sector 1 and the Cable Theft Unit responded to information regarding an armed robbery in progress at the Forsig City of Tshwane Electricity Depot.

When officers arrived at the scene, they reportedly found security guards being held hostage by armed suspects. The guards, who were found in distress, informed police that several suspects had entered the depot using three trucks before stealing rolls of electricity cable from the facility.

Police immediately launched a pursuit operation based on descriptions of the vehicles involved. One of the trucks was later intercepted on Roslyn Road, where three male suspects were arrested.

During the arrest, officers allegedly recovered two illegal firearms as well as a stolen roll of electricity cable from the truck.

Further investigation at the scene led officers to information that another truck involved in the robbery had fled towards Soshanguve. Police continued the operation and later located the second truck, where six additional rolls of stolen electricity cable were recovered.

Two more suspects were arrested during the second interception. Authorities also recovered a white Nissan NP200 believed to have been used as an escort vehicle during the robbery.

The five suspects are expected to face charges related to armed robbery, theft and possession of illegal firearms.

The crime scene remained active on Thursday as investigators continued processing evidence and gathering further information linked to the case.

TMPD Chief Commissioner Yolanda Faro attended the scene following the operation and commended officers for their swift response and coordinated efforts which led to the arrests and recovery of the stolen property.

Cable theft remains a major challenge affecting municipalities and power infrastructure across South Africa, often resulting in power outages, financial losses and damage to critical infrastructure. Law enforcement agencies have continued to intensify operations targeting criminal groups linked to infrastructure-related crimes and the illegal trade of stolen copper and electrical equipment.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the total value of the recovered cables, and investigations into the robbery are ongoing.