Ntuzuma, KwaZulu-Natal – Wednesday morning
A male suspect was arrested and the battery he stole from a South African Police Service truck was recovered by Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) members in Ntuzuma on Wednesday morning.
The arrest followed a call received at approximately 07:00 by the RUSA Phoenix Operations Centre. A witness who was in the area reported seeing a man in possession of a vehicle battery just outside the perimeter fence of the Ntuzuma Magistrates Court.
Reaction Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene. On arrival they identified a vacant property covered in dense bush directly opposite the court complex as the most likely place where the suspect would be hiding. The officers entered the overgrown stand and began a systematic search of the vegetation.
During the search, one of the Reaction Officers was suddenly confronted by a male who emerged from the bushes. The man was immediately detained and placed in restraints.
When questioned on site, the suspect confessed without hesitation. He admitted that he had stolen the battery from a white unmarked Tata truck that belonged to the South African Police Service and was parked inside the secure premises of the Ntuzuma Magistrates Court.
He further explained how he gained entry: he accessed the court grounds by climbing through a section of wire fencing that has an electric fence attached, located at the front of the court building facing the main road.
When the suspect was searched, Reaction Officers recovered the following tools in his possession:
– one 13-inch spanner
– several screwdrivers
– one pair of pliers
These tools were clearly intended for the removal of the vehicle battery.
The stolen battery was also recovered on the vacant property and will be returned to the SAPS.
It was established that the arrested man had previously been arrested for business robbery, confirming that he is known to police.
After the scene was processed, the suspect was formally handed over to members of the South African Police Service based at Ntuzuma SAPS for further investigation and processing.
The swift response by RUSA, combined with the alertness of the member of the public who made the initial call, ensured that the suspect was apprehended within minutes of the report being received and that the stolen police property was successfully recovered.
No injuries were reported during the arrest, and the matter is now in the hands of the SAPS for the laying of appropriate charges.
