The police at Waterpoort have arrested three suspects who had been allegedly terrorising the Waterpoort farming community, stealing copper cables in the area for years.

The three, Shalton Ndou (18), Clever Siphuma (30) and Justice Moyo (28), were arrested at the Vlakte Plaats Farm last Wednesday, while in possession of copper cables. They were arrested after farmers had joined the police in the search for the three accused in the area.

The value of the copper that was found in the accused´s possession is estimated to be more than R22 000.

The spokesperson for the Waterpoort police, WO Hezekiel Lishivha, confirmed the incident. "We have opened a case of theft of copper cables," he said.

He acknowledged that several cases of theft of copper cable had been reported in the area in the past. "The farming community had been crying about cable theft for a very long time and it is good that we managed to arrest some of the culprits. We are happy that farmers have joined the fight against crime in the area," said Lishivha.

He said the arrest was the beginning of a good working relationship between the police and the farmers in the area. Lishivha expressed his appreciation for the effort shown by the farmers in the fight against crime. "We thank all the farmers who assisted the police to arrest the three suspects. We also want to thank Mr Brink Schlesinger, who assisted with his helicopter during the search," Lishivha added.

The three appeared in the Louis Trichardt Magistrate´s Court on Monday and the case was postponed to Wednesday (October 5). They remain in custody.