DURBAN - A joint police operation on Tuesday night uncovered a chop shop in the Danganya area in eMkhomazi (Umkomaas) on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.
Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala said the operation began at 9.30pm after officers were alerted to a vehicle that was hijacked and was hidden in the area.
Gwala said the joint operation included officers from Umkomaas SAPS, tracking officials and security personnel. She said the team proceeded to the identified premises and were spotted by the suspects, who fled in different directions
However, Gwala said police managed to arrest a 39-year-old suspect who was caught at the premises.
Police recovered a vehicle that was hijacked in Pietermaritzburg this week, she said.
“It is alleged that the driver was hijacked in Pietermaritzburg and was later dropped off in the Cato Manor [area] where he managed to seek assistance and report the matter,” said Gwala.
Gwala said it was established that another vehicle found at the same premises was stolen in eManzimtoti during March 2021.
“Further inspection was done in the yard and the team recovered two bakkie load bins hidden behind the house. The initial investigation revealed that stolen vehicles were being stripped at the premises,” she said.
Gwala said the suspect will appear before the uMbumbulu Magistrate’s Court on Thursday for possession of stolen property.
“Police are still searching for the remaining suspects who managed to evade arrest,” she said.
MOST READ: