Same syndicate involved in Fortuner thefts
Say what you will, South Africa’s criminals are smart!
Armed with a catapult and a tablet, the cunning auto-theft syndicate that’s currently at large outsmarted the latest anti-theft technology and made off with two Toyota Fortuners in a two-day sting.
A comparison of video footage capturing the theft of two silver Toyota Fortuners on Tuesday and Wednesday indicates the same suspects and get-away vehicles were involved in both cases.
Christo Stemmet from the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry managed to point out that the same white Nissan NP200 and silver Toyota Cross that were seen on CCTV behind Mica Hardware disengaging the tracking device in the Fortuner Facelift belonging to Mr Frik Buitendach, were seen on their CCTV where Dr Ashlynne Brown’s Fortuner was stolen last night.
Mr Stemmet played the video footage to the Middelburg Observer, where it could be seen that the Toyota Cross was first to make its arrival in their parking area at 18:38. The Toyota Cross parked next to Dr Brown’s Fortuner, and one suspect climbed out to look through the windows of the MCCI to see if anyone was there.
The suspect returns to his vehicle and waits until the Nissan NP200 arrives and parks closer to the Dros Restaurant, where the driver has a good vantage point of anyone entering or leaving the restaurant.
The two suspects can be seen communicating via cellphone before the driver of the Nissan enters the Dros to order a cappuccino.
According to staff on duty, the man was anxious and refused to leave their reception area, which suggests he was their lookout.
After the Fortuner was successfully broken into, the two get-away vehicles and the stolen Fortuner leave in haste.
“They leave from different entrances, but the cameras clearly pick up all three vehicles fleeing the scene in the direction of the old Witbank road,” Mr Stemmet concluded.
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