Two men were arrested while loading heavy tiles at Hardware City, Thohoyandou, into a bakkie after the shop had closed. One of the suspects is an employee of the same store.

Insp Nkanukeni Raedani of the Thohoyandou Police said they received a tip-off last week from a concerned member of the community that the loading was in progress. "After receiving the call, we did not waste time. We rushed to the scene and found the two busy loading the heavy tiles into a bakkie."

Raedani say the suspects, aged 26 and 38, were asked to provide proof of purchase but they failed. "We subsequently arrested them and charged them with possession of suspected stolen property. We seized the heavy tiles so that they could assist us in the investigations and serve as exhibit."

Raedani added that the heavy tiles that were seized were approximately 100 in number and they were worth about R5 000. He said the two suspects had already appeared at Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court last week. "They have been granted bail of R5 000 each and their case has been postponed to 29 June, in the same court."

He passed his gratitude to community members who are working with the police to eradicate crime. "It is our collective responsibility to make our habitat a better place to stay. We thank community members who have taken a bold step in becoming our partners in the war against crime."