Tshwane Flying Squad arrested a man believed to be 36 years old in possession of a white Toyota Hilux bakkie stolen in Brooklyn east of Pretoria on Friday, May 24.
The white Toyota Hilux Legend 50 is estimated to be valued at R500 000.
According to Tshwane Flying Squad spokesperson Sargeant Alfred Legodi, the suspect was arrested in Mamelodi, Tsamaya Avenue next to a ZCC church.
“Members of the Pretoria Flying Squad were stationed on the N4 between Simon Vermooten in Pretoria east at 16:58 when they received a signal from a tracking company about a stolen motor vehicle.”
Legodi said the members then followed the tracking signal that led them to Mamelodi Tsamaya Avenue.
“Upon arrival, the bakkie with its original registration number was recovered and it was determined that it had been stolen in Brooklyn,” said Legodi.
Legodi said the suspect was inside the car.
“He couldn’t give a reasonable explanation for why he was in possession of the vehicle which was reported stolen.”
He said the suspect was arrested and taken to Mamelodi east police station for detention.
“He was charged with possession of stolen motor vehicle.”
He said the vehicle was taken to Pretoria West Pound for safekeeping.
Pretoria east has been a hotspot for theft of Toyotas and Ford Rangers which are then smuggled out of the country.
Previously Rekord reported that cars stolen in South Africa had been retrieved en route to the border.
On March 7 police intercepted a 44-year-old man who was in possession of a hijacked Toyota Rav 4.
The car had allegedly been hijacked in Brooklyn, Pretoria east on February 19.
The suspects face charges of possession of the suspected stolen motor vehicle, contravention of the Immigration Act, driving a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s licence and reckless and negligent driving.
In October last year, a 34-year-old suspect was nabbed heading for the Zimbabwe border on charges of possession of a suspected stolen vehicle.
In June last year, police arrested a 52-year-old suspect before he could cross the border in a stolen vehicle.
A security company servicing the Pretoria east also said Toyotas are targeted.
Bull security company spokesperson French Jooste said motor vehicle theft is really a very big concern at this moment.
“Some of the targeted brands in the east are Toyota Hilux, Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Prado, literally daily.”
He said bicycle theft is still a massive headache as well.
“There is definitely a spike in crime overall from January to today. We are monitoring so many community groups and every day community members are sending through CCTV video footage or incidents that occurred in their streets or area.”
He offered some safety tips for crime in general:
– Report any suspicious vehicle and activity in your area to your security company.
– Always make sure that your garden tools are locked away.
– Make sure that your bicycle is locked away and out of sight.
– It is very important that your gate motor is equipped with a lock bracket and anti-lift bracket.
– Make sure that your electric fence is in good working condition and the fence must be linked to your alarm system.
– Make sure that you have sufficient outside lights around your property, criminals prefer to operate in the dark.
– If you have big dogs, make sure that they sleep inside the house as there is a big increase in dog poisoning.
– Make sure that everyone in the family knows exactly where the panic buttons are in and around the house, it is always better to give each member a mobile panic remote.
– Make sure that all the children in the house know the necessary emergency telephone numbers.
– Inform your domestic workers and gardeners not to allow anyone on the premises without your permission.
– Know your neighbours. If possible, create a street WhatsApp group for general security communication.
– When arriving home check your surroundings. If you note something suspicious, drive around the block and inform your security company to go inside with you.
– At night when you suspect something is wrong outside, do not go out! Rather inform your security company to investigate.
Also read: Three men from Soshanguve charged with murder of Ditebogo (5)
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