Primrose business Auto Lek Spec is warning businesses and the community to be alert.
Recently a customer brought his vehicle in for repairs and when he came to collect it he discovered that the battery had been stolen.
Staff checked the CCTV footage and found that the incident had taken place at noon.
“The modus operandi appears to be as follows, one person stands around on the pavement in front of the business on his cellphone watching to see what the movements of the staff and customers are.
“He then gives someone in a white, old model Mazda bakkie with a canopy, the go-ahead to pull up,” said Willie van Heerden, from Auto Lek Spec.
“They pull up very close to the targeted vehicle.
“They obviously have all the tools needed to remove a battery, and then without much effort, the battery is stolen.
“The person watching the movements of the staff and customers then jumps into the back of the bakkie, and they drive away casually.”
It is alleged that a similar incident also occurred in Wistaria Road where a truck was parked in front of a business, but the thieves were disturbed when someone from another business saw them.
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“It was the same Mazda bakkie, but they sped off too quickly for him to get the license plate number,” said van Heerden.
“Unfortunately our cameras cannot zoom in so we can’t see the licence plate number either.”
Van Heerden is appealing to other businesses in the area to be on the lookout as they may also be targeted.
Sgt Styles Maome, the communications officer for the Primrose police, said, “Out of the few incidents reported of theft out of a motor vehicle, we do not have any cases where such a modus operandi was used.”
Incidents can be reported to the Primrose police on 011 842 0500.
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