Two familiar faces from the intersections of Alberton were apprehended after attempting to steal steel pipes from the newly upgraded freeway at around 13:20 on August 6.
The two men were removing poles with a hacksaw near the barrier behind the SARS building when a business owner spotted them and reported the matter to local security company CPS Security.
Reaction officers pursued the two men when they arrived on the scene. One was quickly apprehended, but the other tried to escape by dodging N12 traffic.
“He was very nearly run over by an 18-wheeler truck when he dashed over the freeway,” said Tyrone van der Merwe, who responded to the call and apprehended the suspects.
Van der Merwe chased down the second suspect and arrested him on the opposite verge after a scuffle.
“I would like to point out that these guys beg at intersections in Alberton. And now the steal too,” he said.
