Tracker recovery cracks R12-million crime syndicate

In what may well be the most successful 24-hour period in its ten year history, Tracker, together with the support of the SAPS, have  cracked a major crime ring, seized stolen goods estimated to be worth approximately R12-million, arrested 13 criminals and recovered 15 stolen and hijacked vehicles (seven of which were not fitted with a Tracker). A suspected vehicle thief was also shot and killed after being tracked down in Pretoria.

R12-million haul

Following Tracker's and the SAPS's initial arrest of seven suspects earlier today at a warehouse in Hermanstad, Pretoria where four vehicles were recovered and approximately R2-million worth of stolen groceries, toiletries and household cleaning items seized, members of the SAPS's Serious and Violent Crime unit in Pretoria have followed up on several leads and uncovered three more warehouses in the Pretoria area containing more stolen goods valued at approximately R10-million, bringing the total value of the haul to approximately R12-million. A further two men were arrested and another three vehicles recovered from the scene, making it nine arrests in total and seven vehicles recovered.  

Vehicle thieves drive over their own man

In another case, a vehicle was stolen from a residence in Randburg and recovered in Soweto earlier today with three arrests. One suspect was taken to hospital after he tried to jump out of the stolen vehicle and was mistakenly driven over by his accomplices.

"It seems that one of the guys panicked when he saw they were being tracked and decided to jump out of the moving car. Unfortunately for him, he fell under the wheels of the vehicle," says Tracker's Communications Manager, Gareth Crocker.

Suspected vehicle thief shot dead

An alleged vehicle thief is reported to have been shot and killed during a track with Pretoria police in Mabopane.

The two men, believed to have stolen the vehicle from a hospital in the nation's capital, tried to flee from members of the Pretoria Flying Squad, but succeeded only in crashing their vehicle into a wall.

During the arrest process, one of the suspects was apprehended while the other was allegedly shot and killed.  

The bigger picture

"There is no question that the stolen vehicle recovery industry is having a major impact on combating violent crime in South Africa. If you consider that over the past month or so, Tracker, with the support of the South African Police Service, has recovered almost 500 stolen and hijacked vehicles, arrested almost 60 suspects, confiscated illegal firearms and ammunition, bust what we believe is the world's first mobile chop shop, recovered explosives with suspected links to a spate of recent ATM bombings and made more than a dozen recoveries where a variety of stolen goods were found on the scene such as foodstuffs, cosmetic goods, industrial materials, machinery and appliances worth more than R12-million, the proof is undeniable," says Crocker.

"If you factor in that Tracker alone protects approximately 400 000 vehicles which has resulted in some 6500 arrests in ten years, and that there are approximately 7.5 million vehicles on our roads, it's not difficult to imagine what impact we could have on crime if more vehicles were fitted with trackers. It's also important to remember that many vehicle criminals are guilty of other violent crimes such as armed robbery, cash heists, rape and murder."

For more information, please contact Tracker's Communications Manager, Gareth Crocker on (011) 380-0300 or 082 78 78 757.