Bethlehem detectives have arrested 31 people who had been on the local police's wanted list for some time, Free State police said on Tuesday.

Sergeant Mmako Mophiring said that during a weekend operation, detectives addressed most of the serious crimes in the community and apprehended outstanding suspects.

"The suspects either skip town or hide themselves in the area to escape being arrested."

Mophiring said those sought were linked with crimes such as rape, theft, assault, possession of stolen goods, malicious damage to property and shoplifting.

The group had been charged and would appear in the Bethlehem Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.