On 8 January 2021, at 11:30, members of Tracker SA were following up on an information regarding vehicle theft suspects who were spotted at the Highveld Mall in Witbank.
They then saw three suspected men traveling in a charcoal Volkswagen Polo roaming around the Highveld Mall parking area, at which point they called SAPS members at Witbank for back up. The formations stopped and searched the vehicle and the three men.
During the search, they discovered that the men hired the vehicle from a car rental company and then mounted it with false number plate.
They further found several car breaking implements in the possession of the suspects and in the said vehicle.
The three suspects aged between 30 and 39 years old were immediately arrested on the scene and will appear at the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on Monday 11 January 2021, on charges of possession of car breaking implements.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma has applauded Tracker SA and the SAPS members from Witbank for the effective collaboration that led to the arrest of the suspects. He said that if the suspects were not intercepted, it goes without saying that someone was going to go back home without his/her vehicle.
Further investigation is underway with a view to connect these alleged villains with other related criminal activities at the mall and other areas. This after a preliminary investigation has revealed that in December 2020 and last week Wednesday, 6 January 2021, the same vehicle was involved where two vehicles, a Toyota Etios as well as an NP200 Nissan bakkie were stolen around Witbank.
