O Kae Molao operations saw police pounce on a chop shop in Midway, Soweto where police were able to, with the joint expertise of the SAPS Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit, Tracker and Data Dot, recover vehicle parts that have since been linked to 11 cases reported in various parts of Gauteng – Brooklyn, Benoni, Johannesburg, Florida, and Westonaria. According to preliminary investigations, it appears this particular chop shop specialises in Toyota parts gauging by the Quantum and Hilux parts found on the scene.
Three trailers also tested positive, while two other vehicles were seized for further testing on suspicion of tampering with vin and/or engine numbers.
No suspect has been arrested as yet pending further investigation towards a watertight case.
Meanwhile, with this week’s operations having kicked off with the tracing of wanted suspects, police were able to trace and arrest 605 suspects in the different Districts in Gauteng. Among the 605 are suspects who have been on the run from the law and are wanted for rape, assault related to domestic violence, assault with intention to inflict grievous bodily harm, and child neglect.
Two wanted suspects arrested in Soshanguve and Mabopane in parallel operations in Tshwane, were linked two three other cases reported at the same police stations.
From the roadblocks in Dobsonville, police this morning recovered two stolen vehicles and impounded four taxis.
Police also recovered two unlicensed firearms in Emdeni, Soweto when they stopped and searched a suspicious vehicle with four men whom police believe were on their way to committing a robbery. The four were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and their vehicle impounded, and they will be processed to establish linkage to previous crimes.
The six hundred and fifty (650) suspects will appear before various Courts in due course.
Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has commended the integrated teams for their commitment shown and has urged all law enforcement members involved in all the operations, to keep up the good work and intensify the fight against crime.
“Maintaining this momentum will take the Province a long way in relation to bringing down the volumes of serious and violent crimes. Let us continue to work together and ensure that hardened criminals are removed from society and thrown behind bars where they belong,” commented General Mawela.
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