The theft of more than 90 boxes of face values from the Christiaan de Wet licensing centre in the Pretoria inner-city has put motorists at risk of having their vehicle identification numbers duplicated by criminals.
This comes after robbers brazenly stormed into the licensing centre and disarmed security guards before they walked away with 92 face values that contained 2 000 sheets each.
The City of Tshwane MMC for roads and transport, Katlego Mathebe, said the incident took place on August 11, when a group of people stormed into the licensing centre and disarmed on-duty security personnel.
“Criminals use stolen face values to issue fraudulent motor vehicle registrations, fake permits, fake driving licences and fraudulent traffic register certificates,” Mathebe said.
She said the aftermath created by this type of criminal behaviour is motor vehicle information cloning as well as the contamination of the vehicle registration database.
Mathebe condemned acts of criminality at all eight municipal licensing centres and advised clients to be cautious of scammers.
She said the City was disturbed by ongoing incidents of crime, ranging from theft to harassment and extortion of money from clients by scammers posing as City employees at municipal licensing centres.
Mathebe advised residents to be on the lookout for and report any vehicle licensing certificates issued with serial numbers BZ8084001 up to BZ8268000 to the nearest police station.
“Any issuing with these serial numbers is produced fraudulently. A criminal case has since been opened with the SAPS,” she said, adding that all municipal licensing centres are cashless.
Moreover, she said, residents must take personal responsibility by ensuring that they are assisted by a City official and by also insisting on obtaining the name of the official.
“Do not make any payment without obtaining an official receipt. In all these commissioned crimes, robbers use the same modus operandi by targeting unsuspecting victims,” she said.
Licensing fraud and corruption must be reported to 080 874 9926 or via email to ntacu@rtmc.co.za
Pretoria News
rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za