An integrated approach involving police officers attached to the Vehicle Crime Investigation Units from Isipingo, Port Shepstone, Empangeni and Alexandra Road as well as Crime Intelligence and Visible Policing resulted in a three week-operation throughout the province to deal with the threat of cloned vehicles.
The operation which was held between 4 February 2019 and 22 February 2019, focussed on intelligence with regards syndicates that steal and hijack vehicles with the intention of altering their identification numbers and selling them back onto the black market those willing to purchase such vehicles.
A total of 50 vehicles valued at more than eight million rands were seized during the entire operation. Swoops were conducted in the eThekwini region, Port Shepstone, Pietermaritzburg and Empangeni areas. The majority of these vehicles that were recovered were either robbed or stolen in the eThekwini region.
A suspect (39) from Cato Manor was arrested and appeared in the Durban Magistrates Court for possession of stolen motor vehicle after he was found in possession of a Mercedes Benz that was taken in a house robbery at Chatsworth during December 2016.
A Toyota Fortuner which was stolen from the Durban Beachfront was recovered in Gauteng. These operations are ongoing and we can expect more arrest and recoveries.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
