Carletonville Police warn of new vehicle theft scam targeting car washes

The police in Carletonville have warned car owners to be aware of a new tactic used by criminals to steal vehicles, particularly in town.

Following a number of incidents that were recently reported police urge motorists to be cautious.

On Saturday morning a resident left his Ford Ranger bakkie at a carwash to have it cleaned. When he later returned to pick it up, the bakkie had been stolen.

The owner of the car wash told the owner of the bakkie that someone pretending to be him had called and said that he was sending someone else to pick up his bakkie.

This “helper” arrived and took off in the bakkie. By printing time the vehicle had not yet been found.

In another incident suspects tried to steal a Toyota Fortuner, also from a car wash in the same way. A friend of this vehicle owner saw the Fortuner speeding past him and called the owner enquiring about his rush. When the owner said that it was not him driving his vehicle as it was supposed to be at the car wash, the owner realised that his vehicle had been stolen.

Thanks to this swift action the vehicle was recovered soon after it was stolen. In yet another incident employees of another car wash in town were washing a Ford bakkie when several unknown men arrived and claimed that the owner had sent them to pick up the vehicle on his behalf. These employees did not budge, but called the owner instead.

“Do not let anyone else pick up your vehicle on your behalf and make it clear to the car wash that you will never send someone else to do this,” is the advice given by the police to prevent these crimes.