Diesel theft has no brakes
Thieves are targeting diesel suppliers and companies by stealing or illegally purchasing from corrupt employees.
This year, we have seen a sharp increase in diesel theft in and around eMalahleni.
In May of this year, Afrisam fell victim among many others. More and more cases have been reported.
The modus operandi is very similar whereby there is more than one suspect, security guards are tied up, and the suspects are carrying firearms.
In December 2021, an estimated amount of R1m worth of diesel was stolen from the Transnet fuel line and luckily the suspects have been apprehended. This however does not deter the thieves from stealing or selling diesel one bit.
In Clewer, this has been ongoing. One community member said that you can see the bakkies with trailers driving past his house at night with huge tanks or a lot of empty containers and not long after they pass by again, but clearly carrying a much heavier load.
“The containers are filled to the brim, and they buy the diesel from corrupt drivers of companies,” he added.
“Any crime is a concern to us as police, including theft of diesel. On July 6, a diesel theft case was reported of an incident that took place on May 14 in which the complainant alleged that six suspects locked security guards inside a hostel. They then drained 3 790 litres of diesel from two tanks and a diesel bowser. Furthermore, they also took five heavy-duty batteries. According to the information, the suspects were driving a Toyota D4D double cab,” said local Vosman Police spokesperson Captain Lizzy Mhlauli.
“No one has been arrested and as police, we are looking for those who are responsible and anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of suspects, can contact Detective Hellen Masombuka at 082 303 9938,” she concluded.
READ MORE:
Armed robbery at AfriSam and diesel was what the criminals were after
Heavy amount of diesel disappears from pipelines in Phola
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