Tsakane – Stolen car parts linked to at least nine cases of either hijacked or stolen vehicles reported at different police stations in the province were recovered on Saturday.
This was during a joint operation that ran parallel with Operation O Kae Molao in Tsakane on Thursday.
EMPD and a tracking company followed a stolen vehicle from Soweto to Commissioner Street in Jeppestown, Johannesburg.
Police immediately confirmed after inspection that they were driving in the direction of a chop shop.
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As soon as the alleged owner, a foreign national, realised police were onto him, he escaped; police are still looking for the man.
In a media statement released by the SAPS, Brig Mathapelo Peters says through another key partner in the fight against vehicle crime, Data Dot, the team were able to establish that two VW Polo headlights were positively linked to a Randburg case opened this month.
“A Toyota Etios gearbox linked to a Brixton case opened in June this year; a VW gearbox casing linked to a Florida case also opened in June this year; and VW Polo parts with engine and gearbox linked to a Honeydew case of this month.
“Further investigation conducted the following day saw more parts recovered, including a Nissan headlight and brakebooster linked to a Parkview case of August 21, a Toyota brakebooster linked to a Jeppe case of June this year; a Toyota Etios brakebooster linked to a Brixton case of March this year; a Toyota Etios rear bumper linked to a Joburg Central case opened in October 2018; and two VW Polo front headlights linked to a Randfontein case of September 2019,” Peters explains.
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Peters adds that operations of this nature will continue as police in Gauteng intensify efforts to reduce the volumes of serious and violent crime through curbing the theft of motor vehicles, especially hijackings that are often violent in nature.
“Members of the public are urged to assist the police by reporting chop shops, where prices are often ridiculously lower than market prices.
“Buying at such places only creates the space for hijacking and places the lives of innocent people at risk,” Peters adds.
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