DE DEUR – A notorious illegal dumping site in De Deur has been exposed as a haven for stripped and stolen vehicles after a major intelligence-driven operation.
The operation has since uncovered several burnt-out car shells, including one linked to a hijacking and murder case.
Police swooped on the Sun Valley area on Friday, June 19, following weeks of surveillance and tactical planning by the Sedibeng Crime Intelligence Unit and other specialised law enforcement teams.
According to De Deur police spokesperson Constable Mampho Mahlomola, officers descended on the area after receiving information that it had become a dumping ground for hijacked vehicles once valuable parts had been removed.
“Upon entering the site, members discovered numerous vehicle shells that had been stripped of parts, set alight and abandoned,” said Mahlomola.
The recovered vehicles were taken to SAPS Vehicle Safeguarding Services (VSS) for forensic examination.
Among the remains found were a Mercedes-Benz, an Audi and a VW Polo with an estimated combined value of R250 000.
Investigators confirmed that vehicles with visible Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) were positively identified as stolen.
One of the recovered vehicles has been linked to a hijacking and murder case being investigated by Kwa-Thema SAPS.
Police said several other vehicles could not immediately be identified because their VIN numbers had been deliberately scratched off or destroyed by fire.
The discovery was made through a collaborative effort involving Sedibeng Crime Intelligence and its strategic partners.
Investigations are continuing as police work to trace the origins of the recovered vehicles and hunt down those responsible.
Mahlomola warned that the illegal dumping of hijacked and stolen vehicles remains a serious concern in the De Deur precinct and surrounding communities.
She urged residents not to buy suspicious vehicle parts and to report criminal activity.
Anyone with information can contact De Deur SAPS on 016 590 9200 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
