The Ladysmith Vehicle Identification Section (VIS) are investigating cases of theft of a motor vehicle against six men who were arrested across KZN on Wednesday (February 15).
During a police operation held jointly by Ladysmith VIS, the Ladysmith K9 Unit, Ladysmith CI, the Uthukela Cluster Task Team and Pietermaritzburg TRT Unit, three suspects aged between 30 and 40 were arrested after six stolen vehicles were recovered in the Hammarsdale area.
The arrests stem from a police operation which was set in motion after reports were received of theft of motor vehicles taking place at San Marco Centre. The Ladysmith Vehicle Identification Section roped in assistance from Ladysmith CI to set up police observation activities in the area.
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On Thursday (February 16), two suspicious-looking men were spotted at the centre. They were kept under surveillance and were later brought in for questioning. It was established that the two had stolen a Nissan bakkie from the centre on Monday (February 13) and that the vehicle was in the Hammersdale area.
A small response team was quickly formed, which included officers from the various units, and police travelled to the Mpumalanga area where they recovered the stolen vehicle, a motorcycle, as well as another three vehicles (a VW Polo, a Toyota Run X and a Mazda bakkie).
The 40-year-old owner of the property where the vehicles were found was arrested for being in possession of the stolen vehicles. All the recovered vehicles have been seized for further investigation. Thus far, two of them have been linked to thefts that took place earlier this month in the Durban area.
In a separate incident, another two arrests were made by members of Ekuvukeni SAPS.
On Wednesday, police officers were working in the Uitval area when they spotted a Ford Pickup parked in the middle of the road.
As officers moved in for a closer inspection of the vehicle, the two occupants jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot.
Police gave chase and the two were arrested for possession of a suspected stolen vehicle. The suspects are aged 23 and 24.
Police traced the owner of the vehicle to a house in the Uitval area and upon waking the owner, they discovered he was not yet aware that his vehicle had been stolen.
A sixth suspect, aged 18, was arrested in Mooiriver by traffic officers and Mooiriver police after a vehicle was pulled over. It was subsequently found that the vehicle had been stolen at Amakhasi in Ekuvukeni on Wednesday.
The investigation into these cases continues and the suspects are expected to appear in various courts soon.
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