Limpopo police arrest suspect in R800,000 vehicle theft on N1 North
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba confirmed that the arrest was carried out on Monday, August 18, during a joint operation involving the SAPS Limpopo Tracking Team, the Polokwane Accident Response Unit, and Tshimollo Security and Investigation.
'The breakthrough followed an alert issued after the vehicle was reported stolen in the Kempton Park policing area in Gauteng. Our teams immediately activated patrols on possible routes, and a grey Isuzu 250 D-TEQ 4x4 was spotted travelling on the N1 North near a lodge,' Mashaba said.
Officers intercepted the vehicle and ordered the driver to stop. According to Mashaba, the suspect, who was travelling alone, failed to produce valid documents for the vehicle. Police then confirmed the bakkie had been stolen and arrested the man on the spot for possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle.
Police say the arrest is a significant step in curbing vehicle theft along Limpopo's highways, where syndicates frequently attempt to smuggle stolen vehicles from Gauteng through Limpopo into neighbouring countries.
The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, praised the swift response by officers and their dedication to duty.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, August 19, facing charges of possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle. Police investigations are ongoing to determine whether he is linked to other cross-border theft cases.
The Star
masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za
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