Man out on bail after arrest for alleged Pretoria east shopping centre car theft
The man was arrested after he got into an accident during a police chase on the N1 highway in Pretoria.
A 35-year-old man accused of stealing a car at a shopping centre in the east of Pretoria recently appeared at the Pretoria magistrate’s court.
Xolani Mjimba from Vosloorus was arrested following a crash during a police chase on the N1 highway on August 13.
Mjimba, charged with theft of a motor vehicle, appeared in court last week for the second time and was given bail.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Duane Lightfoot said the car was stolen at the Atterbury Value Mart shopping centre.
“Garsfontein police were patrolling at the shopping centre when they were approached by a security guard who pointed a moving Toyota Prado that he had just seen being stolen out to them.
“The police members quickly followed the stolen vehicle.
“As the Prado was driving west in Atterbury Road, the police members caught up with the car and tried to pull it over,” Lightfoot said.
Lightfoot said when the police vehicle’s blue lights were turned on, the accused speedily took off and a high-speed chase ensued.
“The suspect then recklessly proceeded towards the N1 highway and drove against oncoming traffic,” he said.
“When the vehicle got to the Atterbury onramp of the N1 highway, he bumped against the concrete barrier and damaged the front right wheel severely.
“He still managed to drive for a hundred metres before losing total control and crashing against the centre barricade of the highway.
“The driver was promptly arrested.”
Lightfoot said Mjimba has not yet been linked to other cases, but police investigations continue.
SAPS released crime statistics for April-June 2022, which show that car theft decreased by 36% in the Garsfontein police station.
The station recorded 73 car theft cases compared to 115 in the corresponding period last year.
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