Tip-off leads to arrest of suspect with cellphone tower batteries worth close to half a million rand

A suspect is expected to appear in the Modderriver Magistrate’s Court in the Northern Cape on Tuesday after he and his accomplice were found with eight cellphone tower batteries worth close to half a million rand on the N12 in Modderriver near Kimberley.

His alleged accomplice is on the run after he fled on foot when police stopped their vehicle.

The batteries were allegedly stolen in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.

Northern Cape Police Spokesperson Olebogeng Tawana says their vehicle was seized during the arrest.

“Modderiver police recovered eight tower batteries worth more than R480 000, believed to be stolen from one of the network towers in Qebhehra. Police in Modderiver were activated. Subsequent to intelligence received about a vehicle on the N12 from Qebherha heading in the direction of Modderiver loaded with presumed stolen network towers batteries, prompted reaction to intelligence received. Police spotted the alleged vehicle, a white Toyota Fortuner on the N12.”