Suspects nabbed for theft out of a vehicle in Groenkloof
Swift action by police and security companies led to the suspects’ arrests as police issue warning to motorists.
Police arrested two suspects for theft out of a vehicle at Groenkloof Plaza on the evening of August 18.
The suspects appeared today in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.
Police spokesperson Johan van Dyk said officers received information about a maroon Toyota Etios that had entered the Brooklyn area earlier that evening.
“The vehicle was wanted in connection with a theft out of a motor vehicle reported in the same area over the weekend,” he explained.
According to Van Dyk, the police searched the area and later spotted the Etios at Groenkloof Plaza.
“When the suspects realised they had been identified, they attempted to flee,” he said.
He said, however, thanks to the swift response and quick thinking of security personnel, both suspects were detained before they could escape.
Van Dyk added that Sunnyside police formally arrested the suspects, linking them to cases in Brooklyn and Villieria.
“Further investigations are underway to connect them to additional incidents in the area,” he said.
Local security companies, CSI and Alpha Security, have raised the alarm about an increase in theft out of motor vehicles in areas they service.
Several items, including laptops, were stolen from locked cars at shopping centres and restaurant parking lots.
Gerhard Rossouw, operations manager at CSI Security, said syndicates behind these crimes operate with precision.
“We’re seeing more and more of these types of incidents. Motorists must be aware of their surroundings when they park.
“Always make sure you lock your vehicle and that no one jams the signal as you walk away,” he warned.
Roelie Hendriks, director at Alpha Security, explained that these incidents differ from smash-and-grabs.
“It’s not a smash-and-grab. The car isn’t damaged. It’s opened and items are taken while victims are inside restaurants or shops,” he said.
According to Hendriks, criminals often use signal jamming to prevent cars from locking or Bluetooth scanning to detect laptops and electronics left inside.
“People don’t realise that if a laptop is left on, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals run in the background. Thieves walk past cars with scanners and decide which one to target,” he explained.
He stressed that motorists should never leave electronics in vehicles.
“If you absolutely must, power it off completely and switch off all connectivity,” he said.
Hendriks added that criminals exploit distracted car guards, waiting for the right moment.
“It takes under two minutes to do the job,” he said.
Tips from security companies to avoid theft out of vehicles:
– Never leave laptops or valuables inside your car. If unavoidable, power down devices completely and disable Wi-Fi/Bluetooth.
– Physically check your car doors after locking to confirm they are secure.
– Stay alert and aware of your surroundings – avoid distractions like cellphones.
– Do not assume a busy or ‘secure’ parking area is automatically safe.
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