Villieria police are hot on the trail of a suspected thief who specializes in stealing from motor vehicles.
Police spokesperson Captian Coba Brits says they have recently made a breakthrough investigating theft from motor vehicles when stolen goods worth thousands of rand were discovered in Mamelodi. Among the items were iPhones, iPads and a very expensive and rare wristwatch. Police are trying to find the owners of these items.
“Although no one has been arrested yet, we are linking a suspect to several cases in Villieria and Garsfontein. The possibility that the suspect operates in other areas of Pretoria is also being investigated. The modus operandi is known to police and it is just a matter of time before he will be arrested,” said Brits.
For the time being the Villieria police are building their case against the suspect. Brits urged motorists who have been victims of theft from motor vehicles with no sign of forced entry to come forward.
“The thief uses a jamming device to break into vehicles and he only steals items hidden on the floor of the vehicle, leaving the items on seats to avoid raising any suspicion. As a result motorists only discover the theft at a later stage,” said Brits.
Motorists can contact Warrant Officer Kabelo Moroke to enquire about the wristwatch and other stolen goods that were recovered on (012) 403 8624.
Brits says police are regularly conducting awareness campaigns to educate the public about crime trends and how to avoid being a crime victim. She says theft out of motor vehicles is one crime where the community can play an active role in prevention. “Any visible loose items that are left inside a vehicle create an opportunity for would-be criminals to commit a crime.”
Brits urged all motorists to lock loose items out of sight in the car boot at all times. “Drivers must never assume that their vehicles are locked when a remote control is used to lock their vehicle and physically check whether the doors are locked before moving away from their vehicle. Boot it or lose it.”
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