Tshwane Metro Police officers received information about a Ford Ranger that was hijacked in Ga-Rankuwa on Saturday, 22 June 2019.
The information was followed up on and the Ford Ranger was located in Laudium, west of Pretoria, on 23 June 2019. Further surveillance was done on the premises where the vehicle was found and the officers noticed that false registration plates were affixed to the vehicle.
While the officers were busy with more surveillance, the registration plates were changed out again with Limpopo registration number plates. The suspect then drove out with the vehicle.
He was stopped and arrested for possession of a hijacked vehicle. Inside the vehicle, they recovered cash to the amount of R35 700, two cell phones and multiple SIM cards.
The suspect was well known by the officers; he is a Botswana national who was arrested before by the K9 UNIT for the possession of stolen vehicles ranging from SUVs to pick-ups.
The MMC of Community safety Alderman Karen Meyer has welcomed the arrest and commended the team for their hard work and dedication. We also appreciate the relationship that exist between TMPD and other stakeholders involved in combating crime, she mentioned.
TMPD will continue to work very hard to maintain safety and order for the residents of Tshwane.
Issued by the Tshwane Metro Police Communication Unit
Hijack Prevention Guidelines – How can we better protect Ourselves? https://t.co/3XM1cePCzN #ArriveAlive #Hijacking #NHPA pic.twitter.com/tMfiI5KDnF
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) June 24, 2019