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- A scrapping workshop was found, in which parts of stolen and hijacked vehicles were found.
- A father and son were arrested.
- Police found 11 vehicles in the store, all of which were stripped of their parts.
A father and son were arrested Friday afternoon after police pounced on an ice cream shop in Crystal Park, Ekurhuleni.
Several parts of stolen and hijacked vehicles were found in the store.
“[Police] upon arrival he found an employee driving a Toyota Hilux, with two engines that had been tampered with. The van was immediately profiled and confirmed as a stolen and reported vehicle at Honeydew SAPS in June 2018, “Gauteng Police spokesman Brig. Mathapelo Peters said in a statement Saturday.
The information was obtained by Johannesburg East Crime Intelligence, and members of SAPS collaborated with the Gauteng Traffic Police Saturation Unit, Tracker Connect, private security and the Office of Insurance Crimes during Friday’s operation.
“The team proceeded to the shop and found 11 more vehicles that were stripped of their parts,” Peters added.
Vehicle models ranged from Toyota Hilux, Isuzu, and Ford Ranger.
SEE | Hijackers steal Audi when Joburg driver stops to fill up his car in a garage
Vehicles have since been confirmed as stolen or hijacked based on reported cases in Garsfontein, Germiston, Randburg, Langlaagte, Lyttleton, Roodepoort and Zonkeizizwe between 2018 and 2020, Peters said.
Subsequently, the police arrested the 65-year-old owner of the company, along with his 40-year-old son and a 43-year-old employee.
The trio are expected to appear in Benoni Magistrates Court on Monday on a charge of possession of stolen vehicles.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela praised the collaborative approach of law enforcement agencies in dealing with vehicle-related crimes.
“The synergy and pooling of resources is highly commendable as it intensifies our efforts to eradicate hijackings by stifling the market and demand for hijacked and stolen vehicles.
“To this end, this approach has proven to be a winning formula, given recent successful operations,” Mawela said.
Police have warned consumers to be vigilant when purchasing vehicle parts.
