Several police stations, including the Actonville police station, have warned victims of vehicle theft about a new scam involving a request for money.
“Victims are being called by individuals who pretend to be police officers/officials claiming to have recovered their stolen vehicles,” said Lt Col Mack Mngomezulu from Ekurhuleni Central Cluster.
“These people make an appointment with them to meet at the local police stations and later call again and request the victims to deposit an amount of money so that they can tow the vehicle to them.”
According to Mngomezulu vehicle theft victims are asked to provide the vehicle’s original documents, to identify the vehicle and to provide a statement.
“Under no circumstances will victims be asked to pay money for towing the vehicle,” Mngomezulu explained.
“It is the responsibility of the police to tow the recovered stolen vehicle from the scene where it was recovered to the pound.“
Once stolen vehicles are recovered, police will tow the vehicle to the police pound and conduct the necessary investigation and at the same time also inform the victims/complainant that the vehicle/s is recovered.
“The victim will then be responsible to take his/her vehicle after it was lawfully handed to them by the investigation officer after the investigation is concluded, without any financial payments or any deposit request,” Mngomezulu said.
Any victim who is contacted and asked to pay or deposit an amount of money must contact the local police station or the person who is investigating that case.
Other police stations which are affected by this scam are: Boksburg, Brakpan, Crystal Park and Dawn Park.
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