Suspected stolen vehicle abandoned in Oakdene

OAKDENE – The details around the ownership and reasons for abandonment of a vehicle at the parking lot of the Comaro Crossing Shopping Centre are still unknown one month after its discovery.

A Hyundai Accent is reported by JMPD Superintendent Edna Mamonyane to still be at the Metro pound, after it was towed from the shopping centre on October 29. It is suspected that it may be a stolen vehicle.

“Sometimes all vehicles suspected to be stolen are sent to the Metro pound or the SAPS pound,” said Edna Mamonyane.

The Hyundai Accent, a faded dark green in colour, was seen on October 22 at the parking lot and found to have been parked in the same spot for at least two weeks with no one coming to collect it.

When JMPD officers were alerted about the vehicle, it was found that two registration plates were stuck together on both ends of the car. Of the two number plates only one was found to be valid and registered to a person living in Richards Bay, KwaZulu Natal.

An investigation is under way by JMPD to ascertain why the vehicle was left at the centre and who left it there following detection by Comaro Crossing security officials. It was alleged that the vehicle had been at the centre’s parking lot for over two weeks after it was first noticed by security officers.

No one has come forward to claim the vehicle since it was towed by JMPD.

Comaro Crossing management responded with a statement to an enquiry by the CHRONICLE, saying: “We confirm that the vehicle in question was spotted by our security team on October 23 long after the shopping centre closed for trading. The Metro Police Recovery team towed the vehicle on October 28.

“Comaro Crossing being a shopping centre, vehicles are parked for certain periods of time when patrons do their shopping and when a car remains for longer periods, it is our duty to check if there is a problem with the vehicle.”

Centre management concluded by stating that the vehicle was no longer parked at the shopping centre.