BARBERTON – Local police and other structures that play a role in fighting crime, such as the community policing forums, are expected to increase their visibility as a way of beefing up safety measures. This is due to the recent significant increase in the number of carjackings in the town.
Mpumalanga News learnt that within a week police had discovered three vehicles that had been stolen in Gauteng and suspected to be destined for Mozambique.
Speaking to this publication, spokesperson for police, Const Tutu Nkosi said, “We have learnt that our town has started to be a first point of entry for hijackers from Gauteng who are illegally transporting stolen cars to Maputo and most of the vehicles were hijacked in Johannesburg. So we are going to beef up our security.”
Nkosi alluded the criminals had removed the original Gauteng number plates and replaced it with a false Mpumalanga registration so that it wouldn’t be easy for police to track down.
“Our members of the reaction unit had received a tip-off about a grey Toyota Dakar double cab that had been stolen in Johannesburg. We discovered that the suspect had removed the original number plate, CW 51 PJ GP, and replaced it with a false registration, FRC 697 MP. Police didn’t hesitate to arrest the suspect, Mr Abilio Celso Zandawela, and he was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. He is expected to appear in the local Magistrate’s Court soon,” she concluded.
People who own cars such as a double-cab Toyota Hilux and Toyota Fortuner are requested to be alert at all times. They must report any suspicious-looking vehicles following them or they can drive to the police station if they suspect something.
Meanwhile this publication also learnt that carjacking was also becoming rife in Mbombela. Motorists are urged to be careful and not to park their cars in unsafe areas, especially not next to the Numbi Road near Hazyview.
