Brackenfell police have arrested five men allegedly found with 160kg of stolen copper cable.
A dark grey Toyota Avanza with five occupants sped off as officers approached the car to search it at a roadblock in Old Paarl Road, Brackenfell, at noon on Saturday.
Police vehicles responded to a call for back-up and pursued the Avanza.
“At a traffic light, on the corner of Lood Street and Old Paarl Road in the direction to Kraaifontein, the traffic blocked the suspicious vehicle,” said Brackenfell police spokeswoman Captain Erica Crouse.
Officers and a member of the public caught four of the five suspects as they leapt from the car and tried to run. A fifth suspect was caught while still inside the car.
A search of the vehicle turned up five crates of cut copper cables.
The suspects were held on various charges, including possession of suspected stolen property and tampering with or destroying essential infrastructure. The Avanza driver also faces charges of failing to comply with the instruction of a peace officer and reckless and negligent driving
No injuries were reported.
The men, who are between the ages of 26 and 32, are from Phillipi East, Delft and Mfuleni. They are due to appear in court this week.