Petrol thief nabbed
A man suspected of petrol theft at several filling stations was arrested.
Local WhatsApp groups were abuzz on Monday, March 10 with reports of a vehicle that had sped off without paying after filling up at the Engen filling station on General Pienaar Avenue in Witpoortjie.
The Roodepoort Record paid a visit to the station and spoke to manager Sydney Hlongwane, who affirmed that the driver headed directly for the farthest pump and requested that the attended fill the tank.
In video footage reviewed by the Roodepoort Record, it became apparent that the car, a yellow Seat, did not have a rear number plate.
Petrol attendant Gilbert Rapudi says that, apart from the missing rear number plate, he had no reason to suspect anything was amiss, adding that the driver was friendly and seemed relaxed.
In the video footage, Rapudi is seen filling up the car, walking to the driver’s window afterwards, and standing for a moment in disbelief as the man sped away.
Word began to spread on social media that the same vehicle had been involved in a near-identical incident at a filling station in Silverfields a few days before.
Further investigation revealed that the same car was also involved in a petrol theft incident in Weltevreden Park early in November.
The petrol thief’s luck finally ran out on Wednesday, March 12 when he was apprehended after being spotted by patrolling security officers from Help24 Secure in Florida.
According to Help24 Secure operations director Quintin Swart, security officers gave chase and managed to force the vehicle to a stop near Florida Lake.
The thief and the vehicle used in committing the crimes were handed over to the police.
“We urge filling station owners to open cases with their local police so that these cases can more effectively be investigated,” says Swart.
