Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo, has commended her staff for their quick thinking and successful recovery of an R4 million stolen luxury car.
The car belonged to a member of parliament and was nearly smuggled into Zimbabwe after being stolen on August 7th from a parking lot at Menlyn Mall in Pretoria.
Due to the high-value vehicle’s substantial value and its prominent owner, there was instant worry when it was reported stolen from Menlyn Mall.
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The incident took place in Pretoria. The SAPS immediately began a massive operation to locate the car, utilizing a combination of intelligence collection and cross-unit cooperation.
Later on the evening, outside of Polokwane, in the Lebowakgomo policing area, something happened.
The car was successfully stopped by the SAPS before it could enter Zimbabwe after acting on intelligence.
A potentially successful smuggling effort was thwarted when the 42-year-old suspect, a citizen of Zimbabwe, was captured during the operation.
In addition to praising the officers for their prompt and well-coordinated response, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe underlined the significance of proactive policing in the fight against transnational criminals.
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This incident serves as evidence of the commitment and effectiveness of our police officers, who moved swiftly to avert a serious loss. For our province to remain safe and secure, cooperation amongst our units is essential, the speaker said.
The vehicle’s successful retrieval serves as a reminder of the persistent worries about cross-border criminality in the area, especially the smuggling of valuables.
Because Limpopo, which borders Zimbabwe, is a known hub for these kinds of illicit activity, the SAPS’s involvement is essential in putting a stop to these crimes.
While in detention, the detained suspect is anticipated to be charged with car theft and attempted smuggling. In order to find any further suspects or networks engaged in the operation, the SAPS is still looking into the event.
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