Vigilant task team members prevent stolen vehicle from crossing Limpopo River, suspect nabbed

Collaborative efforts by Limpopo Tracking team, Limpopo Murder and Robbery Unit and Tshimollo Security and investigations yielded the desired results when a stolen a motor vehicle which was meant to cross the Border was intercepted and the suspect arrested.

According to the information, operational teams operationalised intelligence information about a Toyota Hilux Gd6 which was reportedly hijacked last week in Pretoria, Gauteng Province.

Reportedly, the vehicle was to be smuggled out of the Country via Beitbridge Port of Entry into Zimbabwe.

The operational team followed information along the R101 outside Mokopane and the vehicle fitting the description was spotted. Attempts to stop the vehicle failed as the driver sped off and high speed chase ensued until the Toyota Hilux was intercepted along Nelson Mandela drive in Mokopane town. A 52-year-old driver was arrested.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle was heading to Bulawayo in Zimbabwe.

It was further established that the vehicle was having cloned registrations and the chassis number was also cloned with another Toyota in Johannesburg.

The suspect was then taken to Mokopane SAPS for detention.

A case of possession of suspected stolen motor vehicle, reckless and negligent driving, driving without license, and fraud as the suspect was in possession of fraudulent vehicle registration certificate.

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe applauded the investigation Teams for their collaborative efforts that led to the arrest of the suspect and recovery of the vehicle.

The suspect will appear before Mokopane Magistrate’s Court soon.