Three suspects, aged 16, 26 and 37, have been arrested after police recovered stolen infrastructure copper worth approximately R130 000 following a vehicle chase in Thornhill, Eastern Cape.
The arrests were made on Thursday, 5 November 2026, after Thornhill Visible Policing officers spotted a suspicious Toyota Avanza travelling in the area.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), officers later spotted the same vehicle travelling from the Mondplaas direction near the R102 steel bridge.
Police immediately turned around and pursued the vehicle after the driver sped off into Ferry Road.
During the brief pursuit, officers reportedly saw the occupants throwing shiny objects out of the vehicle windows before the car eventually came to a stop.
A search of the scene led to the recovery of copper allegedly stripped from a transformer, along with several housebreaking implements.
The suspects were arrested at the scene. The 16-year-old was subsequently released into the custody of his parents, while the two adult suspects remain in police custody.
They face charges of possession of suspected stolen property and possession of housebreaking implements. They are expected to appear in the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court.
Sarah Baartman District Commissioner, Major General Thandiswa Kupiso, commended the officers for their alertness and swift response.
She warned that the theft and destruction of essential infrastructure have a serious impact on communities and said police would ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
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