By Augustine Ehikioya
To combat car theft, Police officers in South Africa have stormed a warehouse in Johannesburg where stolen cars are dismantled into spare parts for sale to unsuspecting citizens.
At the warehouse, the Police recovered dismantled high performance cars that were reportedly hijacked.
According to information gathered on Wednesday by Security Watch Africa (SWA), the Police had earlier received information about a warehouse in Johannesburg that is used as a storage for parts of hijacked vehicles.
“The information was operationalised and a team from Gauteng Highway Patrol, SAPS Crime Intelligence, HAWKS, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department K9 and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department Specialized Task Team proceeded to the identified warehouse in Booysens, Johannesburg on Tuesday 07 September, 2021.
“Inside the warehouse, Police found several parts of vehicles including 10 engines that have been linked to high performance vehicles that were reportedly hijacked around Gauteng.
“The Police have also seized goods worth millions of rands that are suspected to have been stolen from hijacked trucks.”
Two suspects, were said to have been apprehended.
“A 28-year-old man reported to be the owner of the warehouse will be charged with possession of parts from suspected hijacked vehicles and possession of stolen property.
“The second suspect, aged 23, was arrested after he came to the crime scene and offered the Police a bribe, he is facing a charge of bribery.”