Second chop shop and kingpin busted

Suspect also wanted in Potchefstroom for 120 stolen gate motors.

One of the vehicles found at the chop shop. (Photo: Supplied)

The kingpin of a vehicle and gate motor theft syndicate was arrested on Friday, 29 July, after a second chop shop was raided in two days.

On Thursday, a chop shop in Claremont was raided, but the kingpin managed to escape. Soon afterwards, Apcan Security and the police’s Rapid Response Unit received information about another chop shop in Maraisburg. When they pounced, they recovered more stolen vehicle parts and gearboxes. A suspect was arrested on the premises and the security company and police obtained more information about the whereabouts of the kingpin who had escaped them the previous day.

The suspect, who was in Newlands, fled when the police arrived at his location and a high-speed car chase which ended in Westdene then ensued. The suspect was duly arrested. Shortly thereafter, the police discovered that the same person was on the wanted list in Potchefstroom in connection with 120 stolen gate motors.

The ages of the suspects arrested over the two days range from 20 to 33.

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