DURBAN – Metro Police stumbled on a Mercedes-Benz E200 that was hijacked on the Bluff in October last year and has been linked to other hijackings since last November.
Metro Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Parboo Sewpersad said that on Saturday, Metro Police officers were conducting duties in the vicinity of Albert Park.
Around 7am, while patrolling McArthur Street, the officers noticed a motor vehicle parked illegally on the roadway. They then decided to stop and investigate as the vehicle was being parked illegally.
Sewpersad said officers noticed that the licence disc on the vehicle was fraudulent. “Upon questioning the driver, he stated that he purchased the vehicle as it is,” Sewpersad said.
“The officers further inspected the vehicle and decided to do a VIN check which resulted in the vehicle being positive on a Brighton Beach case. The vehicle was taken in a carjacking in the Bluff,” Sewpersad said.
He said the driver was arrested and he and the vehicle were taken to Durban Central police station. When inspecting the vehicle, police found logbooks and identity documents belonging to other individuals whom, according to the driver, he has no knowledge of.
“The suspect had previously been (convicted) of fraud twice and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. He is currently out on parole,” Sewpersad said. The suspect's cellphone, logbooks, fraudulent disc and copies of identity documents have been booked into SAPS.
Sewpersad added that the Mercedes-Benz has been linked to numerous other hijackings from November 2021 to the present. It has also been linked to cases in Jacobs where a firearm was taken.
- There was a hijacking in Overport in November 2021 where a Land Cruiser was hijacked.
- A silver BMW was hijacked by suspects using a white Mercedes-Benz E200.
“We commend the members for going beyond the call of duty,” Sewpersad said.
Daily News