Copper worth R130 000 thrown from a speeding van as Thornhill police give chase
Three suspects aged 16, 26 and 37 were arrested after officers spotted the same Toyota Avanza twice and followed it to Ferry Road, where transformer copper and housebreaking implements were recovered.
Police in Thornhill have arrested three suspects aged 16, 26 and 37 and recovered stolen infrastructure copper valued at R130 000 after a brief vehicle pursuit on Thursday, 5 November 2026.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) statement issued by the Office of the Provincial Commissioner in the Eastern Cape, patrol officers from the Thornhill Visible Policing unit first spotted a suspicious Toyota Avanza driving into the area. Shortly afterwards the same team saw the same vehicle travelling from the Mondplaas direction near the R102 steel bridge.
The officers turned around to follow it. The vehicle sped off into Ferry Road and a short chase followed. Before it came to a stop, the suspects were seen throwing shiny objects out of the windows.
When police secured the scene they confirmed the discarded items were copper stripped from a transformer, along with various housebreaking implements.
The suspects were arrested at the scene. The 16-year-old boy was released into the custody of his parents, while the 26 and 37-year-old suspects remain in custody. They face charges including possession of stolen property and possession of housebreaking implements, and are expected to appear in the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court shortly.
Sarah Baartman District Commissioner Major General Thandiswa Kupiso commended the patrol members. “Essential infrastructure damage and theft severely impact our communities, and we will not tolerate criminals who dismantle public utilities for personal gain,” she said. “I highly commend our Thornhill patrol members for their tactical alertness and swift reaction. Spotting the suspects’ vehicle twice and refusing to let it slip away shows true dedication to proactive policing. This successful arrest sends a clear message that our teams are out in full force to protect our communities and state infrastructure. We will ensure these suspects face the full might of the law.”
The statement was issued by Captain Marius McCarthy. The full SAPS media statement is available at https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=72275.
- Father and two children ambushed reversing out of Pinetown driveway as gunman opens fire 2026-10-26
- Police arrest Simphiwe Dennis Manana in Fourways 2026-10-27
- Councillor candidate, 49, arrested in Dassenhoek with unlicenced gun days before local elections 2026-10-27
- Ficksburg police arrest 22-year-old man for murder of Mophinia Molise, 49, found in her yard 2026-10-27
- Rifle seized, 32-year-old arrested as rhino poachers flee into the bush near Seven Fountains 2026-10-27
- Tavern fight over a girlfriend ends in a knife killing. Bloemfontein court gives Mpho Maila 10 years 2026-10-27
- Six arrested on the Ermelo road as police seize AK-47, two filed-off pistols and 31 rounds 2026-10-28
- Missing Keimoes woman, 44, found in a shallow grave near the river as police arrest a 32-year-old man 2026-10-28
- Three Ethiopian Nationals Accused of Breaking Durban Man's Legs Fight for Bail as State Says Keep Them Locked Up 2026-10-29
- Police find 4.6kg of dagga in two drums on the N12 near Christiana, arrest 21-year-old 2026-10-30
