A motorist was left shocked, when a vehicle, almost identical to his, was seen driving in a town.
“It started 13 months ago in September.I went to town and noticed a car that resembled my Mercedes-Benz A180,” said Brian Cragg.
The Mercedes-Benz was identical in colour and model, but it was the registration number which disturbed Cragg most.
“I was attending to various matters in town while driving and was shocked to see this vehicle had an identical registration plate and was not being driven by my wife or anyone known to me.”
Cragg immediately followed the car, and while he was able to distinguish it was not his, he was perturbed by the matching registration plates.
“I followed the car into the parking area of a shopping centre, where it stopped and a passenger climbed out to use an ATM.”
Cragg took a photo of the vehicle and also one of his own Mercedes-Benz.
“I went to Newcastle SAPS where an officer informed patrol vehicles to be on the look-out for the vehicle.”
However, the situation was not resolved and in December, Cragg saw the vehicle again at another shopping centre.
“A person was sitting in the driver’s seat of the car, and I approached him to ask about the origin of his license plate.”
Cragg explained to the driver why he wanted to know, and went as far to tell the person he had already reported the matter to the police.
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“To my surprise, he suggested we go to the police. I agreed and asked him to wait, as I got my Mercedes-Benz.”
The two then drove to the police station, but as Cragg parked his car outside the station, the other motorist sped off.
After months of worrying this other person may have committed a crime in the car, Cragg’s stress finally came to an end on October 17.
“My wife went to the Pick n Pay in Hutten Heights where she saw the vehicle. I then contacted Magenta, who is my home’s security provider.”
The security company immediately sent two guards to the scene, but to no avail, as the driver had already made off before the security guards arrived.
However, two guards saw the vehicle later the day and when it parked, the guards parked behind it and took the driver into custody before contacting SAPS. When SAPS arrived, it was discovered the vehicle had been stolen in Durban. The men were then arrested.
“I was actually considering putting my car through the test again, so I could change its license plates shortly before Magenta caught the guys.”
Relieved the matter was resolved, Cragg thanked Magenta for its assistance.
“They deserve a thank you, as it was not part of their job description to follow up on the matter. We need more good people like them in the world,” Cragg concluded.
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