VRYHEID KZN:Suspects in custody after police pounce on ‘chop shop’
The suspects will be profiled to check if they are linked to other vehicle theft cases, as well as carjacking cases reported”, he said.
The Vryheid Task Team happened upon a ‘chop shop’ during an operation that was carried out on Wednesday (January 27) morning in Weenen. The officers were following up on information regarding suspects involved in a vehicle theft case. It is alleged that on November 26 last year, a man parked his vehicle in his yard in ebhekuzulu area in Vryheid, securely locking the gate before going to bed. The following morning, his taxi was gone and the gate was broken. A case of ‘theft of vehicle’ was opened for investigation at Vryheid SAPS. A team of police officers headed out to the Nhliwe area of Weenen , where the stolen bakkie was found. The investigation revealed that the bakkie was stolen in Alberton, Gauteng. Inside the suspect’s workshop, police found pieces of the stolen taxi, pieces of a vehicle that was hijacked in Colenso, as well as pieces of other vehicles. Seven suspects aged between 30 and 60 were placed under arrest. Two suspects will be facing charges of ‘theft of motor vehicles’, while the other five were charged with possession of stolen property and will be appearing before Colenso Magistrate’s Court. A few weeks ago, Weenen SAPS and Pietermarizburg Public order police recovered a VW in the Sahlumbe area of Weneen. The suspects fled the scene upon seeing the police officers. The preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle was stolen in Emondlo. The KwaZulu- Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombisa Jula, praised the team for uncovering the ‘chop shop’ and the arrest of the suspects. “The suspects will be profiled to check if they are linked to other vehicle theft cases, as well as carjacking cases reported”, he said. ALSO READ:Suspects in custody after brutal murder of Ladysmith police officer Make sure you follow us on our social media platforms for regular updates 
