If the sentences “I left it right here..” or “I was just gone for ten minutes,” sound familiar you have probably felt the sting of motor vehicle theft a bit too close to home.
Last week three vehicles were reported stolen in eMalahleni and the week before a shocking seven vehicles were stolen.
On October 19 a grey Toyota Corolla was stolen in the middle of the day outside a school in Model Park making it the second vehicle theft this month that happened outside a school. The owner and his family were visiting the school for an open day. When they returned to the spot where they left the car just a few hours later, it was gone,
“Our car was stolen, and the corolla parked next to us had a broken window. They must have tried to steal it as well,” said Mr Shaun Laurenson.
He had the car for just over four months. Another vehicle was stolen on the same day outside a school downtown.
It seems that nowhere and no one is safe from motor vehicle theft. On 21 October a Ford was stolen outside a well known restaurant also in Model Park. The vehicle was stolen around 20:00 that evening.
Car jamming is one of the many ways thieves can get access to your vehicle.
The list goes on and a pattern does emerge. The vehicles that are stolen are surprisingly not the newest sports cars or million rand SUVs but older out of production vehicles. Sgt David Ratau from the Witbank SAPS said this is because cars are commonly stolen for spare parts on older vehicles, or used on the street racing scene. Vehicles are apparently also stolen to be used in other crimes such as armed robberies.
Some cases have casualties as well. Recently a motorbike was stolen from a property in Kromdraai on October 15. The owners also found both of their dogs poisoned the next day. The owners could not be reached for comment. This is one incident from several cases this month where cars were stolen from right under the owner’s noses. When they woke up the next morning their vehicles were taken from their yards and even locked garages.
Even though so many cases have been reported this week the bigger picture of motor vehicle thefts reported throughout the year shows that it has not significantly increased at all sitting just under the 2015 total of 314 reported stolen vehicles. Last year’s number was 356 motor vehicle thefts reported at the Witbank SAPS.
To report a crime contact the Witbank SAPS on 013 655 5052.
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