Tebogo Msimanga |
A 65-year old business owner, his 40-year old son, and a 43-year old employee are expected to appear before the Benoni Magistrate Court on Monday 28 September 2020 on a charge of possession of stolen vehicles. They were arrested at chop-shop in Crystal Park, Ekurhuleni on Friday where parts of different reported stolen and hijacked vehicles were found.
The police found one employee driving a Toyota Hilux carrying two engines that have been tampered with. The van was immediately profiled and confirmed as a vehicle that was stolen and reported at Honeydew SAPS in June 2018.
SAPS, Gauteng Traffic Police and Tracker Connect found 11 more vehicles that were stripped off their parts. The vehicle models ranged from Toyota Hilux, Isuzu to Ford Rangers and have since been confirmed as either stolen or hijacked as per cases reported at Garsfontein, Germiston, Randburg, Langlaagte, Lyttleton, Roodepoort and Zonkeizizwe between 2018 and 2020
Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias cautioned consumers to be vigilant when shopping for vehicle parts especially from popular “cheap” workshops as these could be the proceeds of often violent hijackings and theft of motor vehicles during robberies.
