Suspicion of fraud after thefts out of motor vehicles increases
Police are concerned about the plausibility of some of the cases reported which could have been opened for insurance fraud purposes
Twelve cases of theft out of vehicles were reported over the last weekend but police have questioned the credibility of some of them. According to police spokesman, Capt Dawie Pretorius, the number of cases reported has increased dramatically.
“In many of the cases in which laptops, cellphones and wallets have been reported stolen, we really hold the public responsible for negligence.
“We are also concerned about the plausibility of some of the cases reported which (we believe) could have been opened for insurance fraud purposes.”
Five thefts from vehicles were reported in Steiltes. The first occurred in Melkweg Street last Thursday.
“A woman alleged that she had parked her car at 18:00 and went into her house. The next morning the car’s window broken and her laptop missing,” he said.
On the same night a man claimed his car was broken into in Von Braun Street and R700 stolen.
On Friday, in Suiderkruis Street, a woman parked her vehicle at her mother’s residence. The next morning the car window was broken and a laptop, luggage bag and stationery stolen. The items were valued at R35 000.
In Ruimte Street last Saturday, a man said he was sleeping when he heard a car window breaking.
“He went to check and saw three males jumping over his neighbour’s wall. He claimed they had stolen his laptop from his vehicle,” Pretorius explained.
Also on the same night in Stratos Street, a man found his car window broken and his laptop worth R15 000 gone.
Last Friday, at Absa Square at 11:00, a man parked his vehicle. “When he went back to the car, the rear window was broken and a paper bag containing R5 000 and business documents, including a cheque book, stolen.”
At 17:50, a man parked his car at Nelmed Forum. On his return he found the door slightly open and his wallet and cards, plus Canadian dollars stolen.
Three more incidents were reported in Bester Street, Old Pretoria Road and the Kaapsehoop farm road on Saturday.
Laptops, cellphones, sunglasses, and perfume valued at thousands of rand were stolen. Police are investigating some of these cases for fraud.
