Wheel-cap thieves are plying their crime tactics, however, two suspects were recently stopped in their tracks by Marshall Security response officers in the Durban area and handed over to police.
Tyron Powell, spokesperson for Marshall Security, said: “Last Friday, our members approached a suspect who was spotted carrying multiple wheel-caps. After questioning, the suspect admitted to stealing the wheel-caps and took our officers to the location where he had sold the wheel-caps from the previous theft. The stolen wheel-caps were returned and the suspect was handed over to SAPS and charged with being in possession of suspected stolen items.”
Powell said that the suspect was seen at approximately 12pm, walking and carrying multiple wheel-caps at the corners of Umgeni Road and St Mathias Road when he was spotted by Marshall Security members who were on a routine patrol in the Morningside area. “Our officers found this suspicious and immediately intervened. Upon interviewing the suspect, he admitted to stealing the wheel-caps from various vehicles in the Durban CBD. The suspect was then immediately arrested.”
According to Powell, investigations established that the same suspect stole four wheel-caps from a Nissan NP200 on St Mathias Road the previous day (Thursday, 11 August).
“The suspect also admitted to this theft and then took our team to the location where he had sold the wheel-caps. Our teams proceeded to the intersection of Umgeni Road and Quarry Road East where the wheel-caps were being sold to a street vendor who sells wheel-caps to the public. Upon interviewing the street vendor, he admitted to buying the items from the suspect and then returned the stolen items to the owner. Unfortunately, no case was opened by the owner of the Nissan NP200, therefore the suspect was not charged for this theft,” said Powell.
He added that Durban Central SAPS were contacted and arrived on the scene a short while later. “The suspect was handed over to Durban Central SAPS and charged with being in possession of suspected stolen items.”
