In mid-January the EMPD’s Public Order Policing Task Team recovered four sedans that had been either stolen or hijacked.
The cars, from Edenvale, Primrose, Kempton Park and Wadeville, were recovered in the Kathorus area between January 14 and 17.
EMPD’s acting spokesperson, Inspector Kobeli Mokheseng, said the vehicles were recovered with the assistance of tracking coordinates provided by the vehicle-tracking companies.
Also read: Suspects nabbed with stolen vehicle
He said the car from Edenvale, a white Mercedes-Benz, was hijacked on January 14 and found in Alexandra.
Other cars recovered were a white VW Polo stolen from Kempton Park, which was recovered in Dawn Park; a silver Toyota Corolla stolen in Primrose that was recovered in Buhle Park; and a silver Mercedes-Benz hijacked in Wadeville, which was recovered in Dawn Park.
All four recovered vehicles were found abandoned and the ignitions and dashboards of some were damaged.
Once recovered the vehicles were towed to SAPS Van Ryn Deep pound in Benoni.
Mokheseng said the cars will be kept there for safekeeping and to allow for further investigations.
Also read: Four caught in Edenvale for possession of of stolen vehicle and property, unlicensed firearm
He said the operation was held in response to the rising number of hijacked and stolen motor vehicles.
“Because the task team works with SAPS, tracking companies and other law enforcement agencies, it receives updates of stolen or hijacked motor vehicles to keep a lookout for,” said Mokheseng.
“This was not a once-off operation. Recovering stolen and hijacked motor vehicles and fighting crime occurs daily.”
Mokheseng offered the following tips on how motorists can prevent the hijacking or theft of their vehicles:
• When approaching your parked vehicle, have your key ready, but not visible (it can also work as a weapon in case of an attack).
• Inspect the outside and inside of the vehicle before unlocking, to make sure nobody is hiding on the passenger side before you enter your vehicle.
• Know your destination and directions before leaving the parked space.
• Always drive with your windows closed and doors locked and make a mental note of any police stations or metro police precincts in the vicinity.
• When stopping behind another vehicle, leave a half-vehicle length in front of your vehicle to make an emergency escape if necessary.
• When dropping off a passenger, be alert and aware of your surroundings.
• Avoid driving through unfamiliar areas or areas with high crime rates.
• Avoid driving late at night or early in he morning when the roads are quiet unless it is an emergency. In that case it is better to travel with somebody else.
• Never pick up hitchhikers or strangers.
• Never travel the same routes routinely, and change the roads you use on a regular basis.
