Scrap yard owners admitted that it is difficult to spot whether something sold to them is stolen or not, as more residents collect scrap in exchange for money.
According to Mr David Sibanyoni ,who works at a scrap yard in Meyerville, they do not take anything from a person who fails to produce an identity document.
“This helps us to know who sold the item to us should we later discover that it was stolen,” Mr Sibanyoni said.
Mr Joseph Lephoane, who also works at a scrap yard in Meyerville, said they make a copy of the seller’s identity book and keep it in their records.
“If a person comes to us with a letterhead of a certain institution without a letter from the police stating that the item may be sold, we do not buy that item and immediately inform the police,” Mr Sibanyoni also said.
According to Lt Fanie Nhlabathi, spokesman of the Standerton Police, the police visit scrap yards weekly.
“They must keep records of their sales, as well as copies of identity documents of the people who sold items to them,” Lt Nhlabathi said.
They attend monthly meetings with the police at the Standerton Police Station to discuss issues faced by secondhand shops and dealers.
