Two individuals with previous criminal records were apprehended at the University of Cape Town (UCT) for possessing car-breaking tools. The arrest follows a public alert by the Rondebosch police regarding a surge in Volkswagen Polo car thefts in the area.
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Responding to this alert, the Rondebosch police, the flying squad and the licence plate recognition (LPR) group targeted two suspects, aged 45 and 49, after receiving a complaint about a suspicious white VW Polo nearby.
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While on the scene, law enforcement officials confirmed that the registration number of the VW had been cloned. Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Lyndon Sisam told News24 that the team approached the driver and searched the vehicle.
‘During the search, car-breaking implements were discovered, such as a VW computer box which they use once they break into a car. They then quickly switch out the installed computer box with their reprogrammed hardware.’
Sisam says this allows the perpetrators to use the reprogrammed key to start the ignition, lock or unlock doors and control the alarms. Inside the suspect VW Polo, authorities discovered an Allen key sharpened on one end, which is used to force open vehicle doors, as well as screwdrivers and other tools.
‘Both suspects have a string of prior records for theft of motor vehicles and possession of stolen property being a vehicle,’ he adds.
The suspects appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 7 March.
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Picture: RG Visuals / Unsplash