Diesel theft foiled: Bloemfontein police catch suspects in the act

Three individuals were apprehended on the site. Picture: SAPS

Three individuals were apprehended on the site. Picture: SAPS

Published 14h ago

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Alert Bloemfontein Flying Squad members apprehended three suspects who were stealing diesel from a generator in the Free State.

South African Police Service (SAPS) Captain Loraine Earle said on Monday, October 1, around 10 am., Bloemfontein Flying Squad members were conducting routine patrols near South Park Landfill, adjacent to the N1, when they saw a truck and a White Isuzu pick-up standing next to the road.

“Upon investigation, members allegedly caught the three busy stealing diesel from a generator on the back of the truck,” Earle said.

Three individuals were apprehended on the site. Two trucking company employees, aged 38, and one 46-year-old male suspect, was allegedly purchasing the diesel.

The three were arrested for allegedly possessing stolen stuff and committing theft. The suspect will appear in court shortly, said Earle.

In a similar case, in a sting operation, the Msunduzi Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, outwitted two municipal employees who were allegedly stealing fuel, leading to their arrest.

“In a concerted effort to combat fraud and corruption within Msunduzi Municipality and to send a strong message to employees and the public that no one is above the law, a multi-disciplinary sting operation led to the arrest of two municipal employees for the alleged theft of municipal fuel,” said the municipality.

After months of enquiries into fuel mismanagement in which odd amounts were despatched, the municipality claimed that every Friday, the offenders would lawfully collect the fuel under the premise of dispersing it to areas in need of refilling in order to continue providing service.

IOL