The theft of motor vehicles is one of the most problematic crimes in eMalahleni.
Witbank Police have raised concerns over the alarming increase in vehicle theft reported this past weekend.
Four vehicles were reported stolen during month end in the City of Coal, particularly between Thursday and Friday of March 30 to March 31.
The vehicles stolen were a white Volkswagen Polo, a white Toyota Fortuner, a Ford Ranger, and a Polo Vivo.
The first victim alleged on Friday, March 31 at around 23:00 that she was asked by two unknown males to accompany them to their home and in exchange, they would pay her R200.
The victim further reported that she would drop the two males at a nearby petrol station.
Upon arrival at the filling station, it is believed the suspects offered the victim an extra R100 and asked her to drop them off at their home which is not far from the petrol station. It is believed the victim agreed and accepted the money they gave her.
The suspects began providing directions to the victim and when she allegedly stopped to relieve herself on Paul Street in Extension 16, the two male suspects drove off with her car, wallet, and cellphone before fleeing in her car.
In the second incident, the victim alleged that he parked and locked his white Toyota Fortuner at around 17:30 before he made his way to a restaurant for dinner on Mandela Drive. It is believed that at around 21:09 the victim discovered that his vehicle was stolen and later recovered in Mamelodi, Pretoria.
In eMalahleni it seems motorists are not safe, even if it is in the vicinity of their own homes.
This follows after a vehicle was reportedly parked and locked at around 21:00. It is believed that on Thursday morning, March 30, the victim woke up and noticed that the vehicle had been stolen, as it was no longer parked where it had been the night before.
Meanwhile, employees remain a target for criminals whilst at work trying to successfully execute their duties.
This comes after a female victim was allegedly on duty at her workplace on Mandela Drive.
It is alleged by the victim that she was on duty on Thursday, March 30, and upon arrival, she parked her vehicle at around 19:00.
When she knocked off on Friday, March 31 at around 07:30 upon arrival to the parking, she noticed that her car had allegedly been stolen.
Witbank Police Sergeant David Ratau advised motorists to install two tracking devices and park their cars where there is a lot of foot movement and not in designated areas.
The sergeant also encouraged motorists to purchase steering locks as that could deter criminals from vehicle theft.
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