The suspects were caught during a high speed chase and teamwork between the operational managers of Fidelity and Middelburg Mall after a sector police vehicle was not immediately available.

Mr Jannie Prinsloo, Operational Manager at the Middelburg Mall, says that they have recently noticed a suspicious white Nissan Hardbody operating in the area on their security footage. The vehicle was always spotted in the vicinity when a theft was reported.

On Wednesday, 25 November, a contractor busy working on a site next to the mall, reported his generator stolen to mall management. The same Nissan was seen in the vicinity of where the generator was and at the time the generator disappeared, on the Middelburg Mall’s security cameras.

Two days later, on Friday, 27 November, there was a theft out of a Toyota Fortuner parked in front of Panarotti’s.

W/o Lize de Witt, Middelburg police spokesperson, confirmed that a case of theft out of a motor vehicle was opened and that a laptop, iPad and cash were stolen. Once again the white Nissan Hardbody was connected with the incident via security footage.

On Monday a car guard spotted the Nissan entering the mall parking lot. It parked next to a Honda Ballade and a Toyota Hilux.

Car guard supervisor, Mowhamba Gilbert, went to investigate. He witnessed how the Nissan’s two occupants attempted to break into several vehicles.

Mr Gilbert immediately alerted fellow car guards and the mall security via a two-way radio. The suspects realised that they have been spotted and fled the scene, but not before Mr Prinsloo managed to get into his private vehicle to follow them.

Mr Prinsloo alerted the police in his sector, but they did not have a vehicle available. He also phoned Fidelity Operational Manager, Mike Kotze, who rushed to assist him.

In the meantime, Mr Prinsloo was informed that a police vehicle from Sector 3 was on its way to render assistance.

Mr Prinsloo followed the suspects onto Walter Sisulu Street, driving in the direction of eMalahleni. Mr Kotze, travelling in a marked Fidelity vehicle, signaled the driver of the Nissan to pull over close to Roberts Estate. The Sector 3 police vehicle also arrived on the scene.

Instead of stopping, the Nissan made a u-turn and drove into oncoming traffic, back in the direction of Middelburg. Mr Prinsloo blocked them off by pulling his vehicle across the road.

A near accident and a second u-turn was made by die Nissan who fled back into the direction of eMalahleni, only to be blocked off by Mr Kotze.

Upon realizing that they were trapped, the suspects finally gave themselves over. Remote controls, used for blocking central locking systems of vehicles, and other car breaking equipment were discovered inside the vehicle.

It was with great shock that the Middelburg Observer learned that the suspects were never charged and that they were released on Wednesday. Although reasons were unclear, the official response was that there was not enough evidence to link them to the crimes they were accused of.

Mr Prinsloo said that a police officer did come to have a look at the video footage, but concluded that the men caught in the Nissan could not be linked because their faces are not clearly visible.

A media enquiry was sent to the Middelburg Police asking about whether fingerprints were taken, whether the suspects could prove that the remotes found in their possession actually works on a gate or garage belonging to them, and whether two eyewitness accounts of the men trying to break into vehicles in the mall parking lot amounts to not enough evidence, was not answered before deadline.

W/o De Witt said that according to the investigating officer, all possible leads were followed up and the docket was sent to court but there simply was not enough evidence to connect the men with the said crimes.

Mr Prinsloo warned Middelburg residents to be vigilant during the festive season and not to leave valuables inside their parked vehicles, where possible.