The police in Musina recently arrested five people who were found stealing steel from railway lines.

Police spokesperson Captain Sydney Ringane said they arrested four Zimbabwean nationals and a South African citizen while the five were busy removing steel that supports railway lines at Campbell, outside Musina, last Thursday morning. “Our Crime Intelligence Unit and Crime Prevention Unit caught the suspects red-handed, while they were busy removing the heavy steel. The arrest came after we were tipped-off by the community,” said Ringane.

Ringane said the suspects, aged between 22 and 40, later revealed that they were selling the steel to Reclaim scrap-yard. Speaking from the scrapyard, which is situated in town next to the show grounds, Ringane said: “We are about the arrest the owner as the suspects have already given us all the information that proves that they were supplying the stolen steel to him. We have also discovered some of the steel that he has bought from the suspects,” said Ringane, while adding that the value of the stolen steel was estimated at R4million.

Ringane also said they were going to close the scrapyard.

“Officials from Spoornet visited the scrapyard and showed the owner samples of their stolen steel, but he ignored them,” said Ringane.

Ringane also hailed the community for informing them about the fact that led to the arrest of the five suspects. He also urged the community to continue informing the police about any criminal activity happening in the area. He said the suspects would appear in court as soon as possible.