Polokwane – A Toyota Hilux Gd6 hijacked in Pretoria has been recovered by the South African Police Service (SAPS) before a 52-year-old man could smuggle it across the border into neighbouring Zimbabwe.
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said: “Collaborative efforts by the Limpopo tracking team, Limpopo murder and robbery unit, and Tshimollo Security and investigations [police units] yielded the desired results when a stolen motor vehicle, which was meant to cross the border was intercepted and the suspect arrested”.
Colonel Ledwaba said acting on prior information, operational teams spotted a vehicle fitting the description of the hijacked Toyota Hilux along the R101 outside Mokopane during the Youth Day holiday on Friday.
The bakkie was hijacked in Pretoria last week.
“Attempts to stop the vehicle failed as the driver sped off and a high-speed speed chase ensued until the Toyota Hilux was intercepted along Nelson Mandela Drive in Mokopane town,” said Colonel Ledwaba.
“A 52-year-old driver was arrested.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle was heading to Bulawayo in Zimbabwe.”
Colonel Ledwaba said the recovered vehicle had been fitted with a “cloned” number plate.
The chassis number had also been “cloned”. It belonged to another Toyota in Johannesburg.
SAPS Provincial Commissioner 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.
