PORT ELIZABETH - 3 SUSPECTS CAUGHT STEALING FROM DELIVERY TRUCK IN COEGA

Three suspects have been arrested last night at 18:30 after being caught offloading a delivery truck in Dedisa Road, Coega.

Alert Kinkelbos police members passing through the area spotted the truck and a silver Peugeot vehicle next to the road in an area where trucks don’t normally pull off.

They also spotted three male persons at the vehicle which to them looked like goods were being transferred from the truck to the vehicle.

On turning around, both vehicles attempted to drive off, but after a short pursuit the police members managed to pull both vehicles off and do further investigation.

After searching the vehicle they discovered part of the truck cargo goods and arrested all three male suspects (including the truck driver) aged 21, 37 and 47 years old for possession of stolen goods. The goods included 12 tins of baby formula milk, 54 tins of coffee as well as 50 litres of diesel (two 25 litre containers) which is suspected to have been siphoned off from the truck tank. Total value of stolen goods is estimated at about R25 000.

In the past few months police have noticed an increase in truck hijacking cases being opened after drivers alleged that they were hijacked. In most cases the trucks were recovered shortly afterwards and the cargo goods discovered to be missing/stolen.

The Motherwell Cluster Commander, Major General Dawie Rabie applauded the actions of the police members for apprehending these suspects red handed and added that, "We (SAPS) have been suspecting in many cases that the drivers were in cahoots with the criminals stealing these goods and opening false hijacking cases.

In some instances we have arrested drivers and their fellow suspects, and many cases are still being investigated where we suspect inside jobs. We are appealing to our community to be on the lookout for suspicious behaviour where trucks are being offloaded at irregular venues and to alert the police immediately.

We are also following up various leads where we also strongly suspect that the stolen goods are sold in general shops at much lower prices than at mainstream shops and suppliers."

The truck and the rest of the cargo was handed back to the owner/supplier and the silver Peugeot was confiscated and impounded for further forensic analysis and investigation