Repeat offender arrested in Polokwane with allegedly stolen R400,000 vehicle bound for Beitbridge

A 25-year-old man was arrested on Friday in Polokwane after police intercepted a silver Chery Omoda that authorities say was stolen in Sandton and valued at approximately R400,000. Police said the vehicle was believed to be travelling towards the Beitbridge Port of Entry when it was stopped on the N1 near the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Intelligence-led operation

The arrest followed an intelligence-driven operation carried out by the Limpopo Provincial Tracking Team, the Provincial Investigation Unit and private security companies. Police said teams received information about a suspected stolen vehicle travelling from Gauteng towards Beitbridge.

“The teams received information that a suspected stolen vehicle was travelling from Gauteng towards Beitbridge, allegedly with the intention of being smuggled out of the country,”

Police named the private security companies involved as ShadowSecure Security, Limpopo Tactical Security and Tshimollo Security and Investigations. The vehicle was monitored and intercepted on the N1 in Polokwane.

Previous arrest and charges

Further inquiries by police established that the Chery Omoda had been reported stolen in Sandton. The 25-year-old driver was arrested at the scene.

Police said the man had been arrested in similar circumstances six months earlier when he was detained at the Kranskop Tollgate in March while driving a stolen Range Rover towards Beitbridge.

“He was subsequently granted bail by the Modimolle Magistrate’s Court,”

The suspect is expected to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on charges including possession of a suspected stolen motor vehicle, driving without a valid driver’s licence and fraud relating to allegedly false registration plates displayed on the vehicle.

Police response and next steps

Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Jan Scheepers welcomed the arrest and commended police and the private security teams for their work to disrupt the movement of stolen vehicles towards the province’s borders. Police said investigations are continuing.