Three copper pots, stolen from the Shri Siva Subramaniar Alayam in Durban’s Drift area, have been recovered, thanks to quick action by Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) and a vigilant scrapyard owner in Verulam.
The pots, estimated to be 50 years old, were stolen last Friday when suspects broke into the temple’s feeding section. Along with the pots, the burglars made off with electrical cables and dishes.
After the theft, Rusa circulated information about the incident and the stolen items on its WhatsApp Crime Group. On Monday afternoon, the owner of a Verulam scrapyard contacted Rusa, reporting that the pots had been sold to his business.
Rusa officers visited the scrapyard and reviewed surveillance footage showing an individual unloading the copper pots and a significant quantity of damaged copper pipes from a white Toyota Etios. The scrapyard owner revealed that the seller had presented an affidavit from the South African Police Service (SAPS), claiming the copper pipes were obtained during renovations.
The seller received R10 606.70 for 72.5 kilograms of goods, including the stolen pots. The scrapyard owner voluntarily handed the pots over to Rusa officers, who returned them to the temple.
The temple’s management expressed relief at the return of the pots, that hold both cultural and historical significance. Authorities are continuing their investigation to identify and apprehend the suspects.
