Bakkie hijacked in Pretoria retrieved en route ‘to border’
The Ford Ranger Raptor was reported hijacked in Pretoria on Friday, and was recovered en route to the Beitbridge border post on Sunday.
A Ford Ranger Raptor reported hijacked in Pretoria on Friday was recovered on Sunday en route to being smuggled out of the country, according to police.
A 49-year-old man was arrested for possession of suspected stolen property and a case was opened at Westenburg police station.
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the arrest was made during a coordinated operation as a continued effort to combat the illegal smuggling of vehicles across borders.
Ledwaba said Limpopo police nabbed the man who allegedly was smuggling the vehicle out of the country through the Beitbridge border.
He said the suspect was intercepted on Sunday morning during an operation along the R101 next to Lunds farm on the way to smuggle the bakkie out of the country into one of the neighbouring countries through the Beitbridge border post.
“The vehicle was hijacked on Friday, March 15 in Pretoria,” said Ledwaba.
According to Ledwaba, the suspect is due to make another court appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.
Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe welcomed the arrest and commended the members for their endless effort in the fight against crime.
The suspect will also appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, March 20 for an unspecified hearing.
#sapsLIM Limpopo SAPS members intercepted another suspect along the R101 next to Lunds farm with a stolen vehicle on the way to be smuggled out of the country through the Beitbridge border post. The vehicle was reportedly hijacked in Pretoria on 15/03. NPhttps://t.co/1QzPj6RVSR pic.twitter.com/BDIgqhoq6Y
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) March 19, 2024
Previously Rekord reported that cars stolen in South Africa had been retrieved en route to the border.
On March 7 police intercepted a 44-year-old man who was in possession of a hijacked Toyota Rav 4.
The car had allegedly been hijacked in Brooklyn, Pretoria east on February 19.
The suspects face charges of possession of the suspected stolen motor vehicle, contravention of the Immigration Act, driving a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s licence and reckless and negligent driving.
In October last year, a 34-year-old suspect was nabbed on charges of driving a suspected stolen vehicle heading for the Zimbabwe border.
Last year June, police intercepted and arrested a 52-year-old suspect before he could cross the border in a stolen vehicle.
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