WESTVILLE SAPS warns Highway residents to be aware of a stolen car recovery scam.
The station commander, Colonel Z Zondi, confirmed that the owner of a vehicle that was stolen was contacted telephonically by a man impersonating a police officer.
The impersonating police officer claimed to be in possession of the recovered vehicle.
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Sergeant Stephen Clark of the Westville SAPS said the caller had all of the vehicle details which he believed were acquired from the vehicle’s service book.
“The caller alleged that there was no police breakdown service available in the area where the vehicle was supposed to have been recovered. The owner needed to pay a few thousand Rand for a private tow truck to get his vehicle to a safe location and returned to him,” said Clark.
“It must be made clear the SAPS do not charge for the recovery or towing of a private vehicle after it has been stolen and recovered. The recovery costs are covered by the state. The only call made to you will be via a police member or a tracking company to inform you where your vehicle will be taken for safe keeping.”
“If your vehicle is stolen, Westville SAPS urges the owner to report it as soon as possible and get a case number.
“Please ensure the official you are making the statement to circulates the vehicle’s details,” said Clark.
He urged people to note the name of their tracking company as each company is run and serviced differently.
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“We are sensitive to the trauma a person experiences when a vehicle has been stolen or car-jacked, however, we ask the community to provide the SAPS with as much information regarding the vehicle as possible. When communicating with the SAPS, or someone alleging to be a police official, ask them to quote you the CAS number of your case.
“The crook who stole your car is trying to scam you further and will not know this number. If a police member tries to coax money out of you for recovering your vehicle, this must be reported immediately to your closest SAPS station commander,” said Clark.
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