Polo Pinetown’s prime target
The Pinetown SAPS says at some stage since November last year, in a space of six to seven weeks, about 19 vehicles were stolen, with 11 of these being VW Polos.
THE VW Polo is the most targeted make of vehicle by car thieves in the Pinetown area, which has recorded a drastic decline in carjackings and inversely an increase in the theft of motor vehicles.
The Pinetown SAPS suspect a syndicate is operating in the area and it seems to eye white or silver VW Polos.
The commander of the station’s property crimes team, which deals with the theft of motor vehicles, theft out of cars, the theft from motor vehicles, the use of a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent, and house break-ins, Detective Warrant Officer Pius Sifiso Mbambo, said since November last year, “we have realised how much cars are getting lost in our area”.
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Mbambo said at some stage since November 2024, about 19 vehicles were stolen in the Pinetown area in a space of six to seven weeks, with 11 of these being VW Polos.
“Those are the most targeted vehicles,” said Mbambo, who added that hotspots are usually parking lots outside gyms or where it is clearly visible that there are no CCTV cameras.
Mbambo’s advice, especially to owners of high risk vehicles such as VW Polos, is that when they are aware that they plan to spend a considerable amount of time parked while shopping, rather park in controlled access parking areas or, if making use of “open, informal” parking spaces, leave a person in the vehicle.
The destination, based on information from trackers, is 90% of the time towards the uMlazi, Makhutha, KwaMashu and Inanda areas.
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In cases where thieves attempt and fail to steal a vehicle, computer boxes are stolen, largely from VW Polos.
“That takes about five minutes to remove,” said Mbambo.
Get a copy of the July 11 edition of the Highway Mail to read more about the car theft hotspot areas in the Pinetown SAPS policing jurisdiction, tips on what to look out for, other vehicle-related crimes, and other vehicles which are targeted by car thieves, according to the police.
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