Highway Patrol Unit that was recently relaunched and handed 55 high performance vehicles by Gauteng Provincial Government recovered seven stolen and hijacked vehicles that include brand new SUVs and arrested 14 suspects, just in a period of four days.
On 24 February 2021 at approximately 22h50 members of the unit were patrolling on M2 highway when they received information of a stolen Nissan NP200. The members responded immediately and arrested a suspect found inside the vehicle at Turfontein. On the same day, members patrolling on the N12 highway received a complaint of a stolen Toyota Hilux. Members responded swiftly and recovered the vehicle abandoned at Crystal Park.
Still on Wednesday, members patrolling on N1 highway received a tracker signal of a stolen Renault Sandero. Members recovered the vehicle in Dobsonville, Soweto where one suspect was arrested.
On Thursday 25 February 2021 members were patrolling on the N1 highway when they received information of a suspicious white Quantum in the Kosmosdal area. Members proceeded to Rietspruit Street where they found two trucks from courier companies loaded with electronics worth R1.9 million.
One of the trucks was positively hijacked at Rabie Ridge. Six suspects were arrested after they were also found with a jamming device.
On Friday, 26 February 2021, at approximately 07h30, members of Highway Patrol received information about a gang that buy vehicles using fraudulent documents. Information led members to Louis Botha Avenue in Johannesburg and Kempton Park Ekurhuleni where they recovered a BMW X5, Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Quantum all allegedly bought using fraudulent documents.
Four suspects were arrested and charged with possession of suspected stolen motor vehicles. While processing the suspects, two men arrived and offered members R10 000 for the release of suspects. Both men were also arrested and charged with bribery.
Read: Relaunched highway patrol unit handed 55 high performance vehicles, Gauteng
