Criminals almost get away with vehicles

A TIMELY intervention by an alert private security company and police officers in Mpumalanga has saved a car dealership from losing vehicles worth around R5 million.

When the security company and police officers arrived at the scene in the early hours of yesterday, engines of four Toyota vehicles which are on sale were already idling.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said in total, eight vehicles were already unlocked and their dashboards had been stripped as the criminals tried to locate the vehicles’ tracking devices.

The targeted vehicles were four Toyota Fortuners, two Toyota Hilux GD6s and two Toyota Land Cruisers.

“Extra security features saved a vehicle dealership of vehicles worth about R5 million, which were already tampered with and some of them reportedly found with engines already running. This incident is said to have occurred in the early hours of today (February 2), in Delmas,” said Mohlala.

“The security company, which keeps a round-the-clock monitoring system on the dealership, picked up footage where suspects were seen tampering with the dealership’s gate.”

Mohlala said police in Delmas were immediately contacted by the private security company, which was already heading to the business site.

“The quick response by the police and security personnel saved the dealership millions of rand.

“Suspects fled to evade arrest upon arrival of the law enforcement agencies, but the suspects’ mission was unaccomplished.

“On further observation, it was discovered that the suspects reportedly (angle) grinded the gate locks to gain entry into the premises. It is alleged that eight vehicles were already unlocked, their dashboards striped open, and it is suspected that the suspects were trying to locate the tracking devices,” he said.

Mohlala said police are doing their best to collect clues which might lead to the arrest of the criminals.

“The police call on anyone with information that might lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact the detective branch commander in Delmas, Captain John Mothupi, on 082 492 6862, or call the Crime Stop number, 08600 10111.

“Alternatively, members of the public can send information via the MySAPS App. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous,” he said.

Meanwhile, the provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, has commended the “stunning job done by both the police and the security company”.