One suspect of an alleged card-cloning gang has been arrested in the early hours of this morning.
According to Dowry Security’s reaction manager Marcel Jonker, they received information about the crimes from informants a week ago and started being vigilant when on patrols.
The gang allegedly used a small cloning device at ATM’s all over the West Rand and regularly cloned cards at an ATM in Silverfields.
They would then use the cards mainly to buy large volumes of petrol and diesel which they believe would be resold on the black market. When buying the fuel they would always use a bakkie and a trailer with a large tank on the back.
One of the garages that was regularly targeted in Helderkruin also turned out to be a client of the security company. When the three suspects once again struck at the garage in the early morning hours to buy fuel with a cloned card, a reaction unit patroller recognised the bakkie and stopped to confront the suspects but they sped off.
Other units were informed and four vehicles pursued the gang. Unfortunately for the suspects one of the streets they eventually turned into, Hexrivier Road in Wilro Park, was a cul-de-sac.The reaction unit officers cornered them and drew their firearms as the suspects tried to flee. One suspect fell and was promptly arrested but the other two disappeared into the adjoining veld.
According to Jonker it is suspected that fraud in excess of a R100 000 has been committed by the culprits.
Two more sets of false number plates and credit card slips for various fraudulent transactions were found in the vehicle. The bakkie is also branded with an advertisement for someone who hires out bakkies and it is believed that either the bakkie belongs to one of the suspects, or that the real owner is involved in the crimes or that the vehicle was hired or borrowed from the real owner.
Roodepoort police could not be reached for comment.
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