MANKWENG – THE Mankweng police are looking for the people who were involved in two separate incidents of motor vehicle theft on Saturday March 7.
Mankweng police spokesperson, Const Matimba Maluleke, said the first incident occurred in Boyne at the Moria welcome gate.
“The complainant alleged that he parked his maroon Honda Ballade with registration number JTY027GP at the Moria welcome gate at about 20:00.
“He returned to where he had left the car at around 01:00 but it was not there,” Maluleke said.
Maluleke said the second incident took place in Ga-Mamabolo, Mongoaneng.
He said the complainant said he parked his white Toyota Siyaya with registration number CTZ136L at his home. “When he woke up the following morning his taxi was gone.”
Express spoke to one of the victims, who related his horror at discovering his taxi had been stolen.
“At 04:00, a colleague phoned me to tell me to slow down as he had seen me speeding past him. He thought I was in a rush to book a queue at the taxi rank so that I could start my rounds early,” the victim explained.
He said he quickly rushed to his garage only to find that his taxi had been stolen. He said he could not believe his taxi was gone as it was his only means of income.
“I transport school children in my village and work around Ga Molepo and the nearby villages,” he said.
He said he contacted friends to be on the lookout for his taxi.
“I have a good relationship with the people in my community so they were very helpful. I then heard it was seen in Maphakane village and I went to search for it but did not find it.”
He said he followed another lead in a different section of Maphakane village called Boshega.
“I contacted the police and we went to the scene so that I could identify my taxi. My name was on the driver’s door so I knew it was mine, but some of its parts were removed and the registration number had been changed,” he said.
He said the news was heartbreaking to his family because now he was unable to work.
“Those who break the law are a threat to the community and they deserve to be put behind bars,” he said.
Maluleke warned people to take care when they parked their cars.
“Security measures such as alarms, anti-hijacking and gear locks must be used as this will intimidate robbers. People must make sure that they lock their cars and avoid leaving the windows open,” he said.
He said people should also check the surroundings for anything suspicious, and, when parking their vehicles in a public place, ensure that the area was well populated and well lit.
Maluleke said no arrests had been made in either of the two cases.
Anyone with information can contact their nearest police station.
