UPDATE: Million rand racing car recovered two days after it was stolen
PARKVIEW – Parkview police are currently investigating the theft of a vintage racing car valued at over R1 million which was stolen on 28 July from a home in Parkview.
UPDATE: 1:30pm, 31 July 2015 – A stolen racing car worth over R1 million was recovered on 30 July in the east of Pretoria after the owner of the vehicle received a mysterious phone call.
The car had been missing for two days.
Sergeant Lloyd Ramovha of Parkview Police Station, said a man who was a friend of the owner of the car walked into the police’s Client Service Centre and told officers he had received a call from his friend who was out of town. His friend had informed him that he had received a call from an unknown person claiming to have the vehicle.
“Detective Sergeant Timmy Rikhotso was then assigned to attend to the case and immediately drove with the [friend] to Kameeldrift, northeast of Pretoria, culminating in the recovery of the vehicle which appeared to still be in good condition,” said Ramhova.
“This person [who had the car in his possession] then alleged that he unsuspectingly bought the vehicle from an unknown person. He further explained that he is in the business of buying, repairing and selling vintage cars.”
The man alleged that after he had seen media reports about the missing vehicle, he had tracked down the owner and informed him that he had the car.
Ramovha said no arrests have been made, but the investigation was ongoing. “We are receiving full co-operation from the person who handed over the vehicle,” Ramovha said.
INITIAL REPORT: 29 July 2015 4pm – Lloyd Ramovha, spokesperson for Parkview police, explained that the car was stolen between 8am and 3.30pm when the owner left the property. The car was on the back of a trailer which was parked inside the property, behind a security gate.
According to Ramovha, it was a Formula 5000 sports car and added that both the trailer and car were stolen. “It appeared that entry was gained through derailing the gate,” he said.
According to Ramovha, the Formula 5000 sports car, was on the back of the trailer when it was stolen from the owner’s driveway.
Ramovha added that both the trailer and car were stolen.”It appeared that entry was gained through a derailed gate,”he said.
Race team manager Anton Roux said, “If the car is going to remain in South Africa it will most likely end up at a scrap metal dealer which will be quite [sad], because it is a historic piece of merchandise.”
No arrests have been made, and police are appealing to anyone with information that could lead to an arrest to come forward.
According to Janet Wilson, wife of the vehicle owner, an ADT security alerted her of the break-in after noticing a broken padlock on the floor.
Wilson alerted Parkview police at 3pm.
Details: 011 486 5000; 0860010111.
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