The Hawks have arrested four people, two of them employees of Ford Motor Company of South Africa (FMCSA), after the company reported the theft of 36 engines from its premises in Silverton, Pretoria.

The investigation follows a complaint by FMCSA about the theft of the engines using a courier service truck.

Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale says the courier company truck was used to load rack with about 36 engines from the FMCA premises.

After the truck was loaded, it managed to successfully exit the FMCSA premises without following proper procedure.

“The truck went to offload at Charles Leyds Street in Eersterus on instructions [given] to the driver by the forklift instructor.”

She says law enforcement officers found the racks and forklift in Eersterust. However, the engines are still missing.

Mogale says four suspects aged from 29 to 44 were arrested. They include two FMCSA security personnel, a mechanical repair shop owner and the courier truck’s driver.

The suspects are facing charges for theft and possession of suspected stolen motor vehicle parts worth an estimated R1.1m. They will appear in court on Monday.

The Ford Motor Company plant is located in an industrial area on the outskirts of Silverton.

The Silverton assembly plant overseas the production of midsize pickup trucks.