LIMPOPO – An intelligent-led sting operation conducted on 21 September next to the Beitbridge Boarder Post in the Musina Policing area led to the cracking of a vehicle theft syndicate. The operation was jointly conducted by members from Crime Intelligence , VIS and the Provincial Tracking team. The syndicate had stolen motor vehicles smuggled from South Africa to Zimbabwe through the Limpopo River for some time until the special operation was established and conducted last night.
According to provincial police spokesperson, LT. Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe, five suspects (aged 40, 32, 33, 31 and 36 years old) from Senwabarwana, Musina and Soshanguve in the Gauteng Province were arrested and the following four stolen motor vehicles awaiting to be smuggled were seized during the operation:
– A White Toyota Hilux single cab which was hijacked at the beginning of September 2016 at Temba in Hammanskraal of the Gauteng Province.
– A brand new White Hyundai H1 truck which was supposed to be delivered at the Department of Public Works in Pretoria.
– A Silver BMW 7 series which was intended to be reported stolen after having been smuggled out of the country. The vehicle is allegedly in arrears of about R700 000 with a bank in South Africa.
– A Toyota Avanza which was hijacked at Brooklyn in the Gauteng Province in October 2015 .
The 32-year-old suspect from Soshanguve appeared before Musina Magistrate Court today on the charge on possession of stolen motor vehicle and was remanded in custody until the 29 September for bail application. The rest of the suspects where taken to Malebogo in the Senwabarwana area outside Polokwane to allow for further investigation. Theywill appear before the Senwabarwana Magistrate’s Court tomorrow (Friday) said Ngoepe.
“Our preliminary investigations have connected this suspects to two car highjacking cases in OR Tambo of the Gauteng Province and on other cases in Pretoria.”
The Provincial Commissioner LT. General Nneke Jim Ledwaba has commended the officials on the no-nonsense approach in the fight against crime. “Bravo to them on the job-well done,” he said.
