Police blitz targets motor vehicle crimes in Kimberley
A MULTI-agency blitz operation targeting motor vehicle crimes swept through Kimberley this week. Law enforcement officers from across the Northern Cape converged on the city, raiding scrapyards, panel beaters and second-hand dealerships in a co-ordinated crackdown on stolen cars, vehicle fraud and cloning operations.
The operation, executed on February 26, brought together elite units from SAPS, including the Provincial, Kimberley, Springbok, De Aar, and Upington Vehicle Crime Investigation Units (VCIU), SAPS Crime Intelligence, and the Organised Crime Unit. Backed by the Insurance Crime Bureau (ICB), Data Dot SA, Tracker, and major motor vehicle insurance companies, the team left no stone unturned in its mission to dismantle illicit operations involving stolen and tampered vehicles.
According to SAPS spokesperosn Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock, one of the significant discoveries of the day occurred at a Galeshewe scrapyard, where officers uncovered a white VW Polo believed to have been hijacked in Moroka, Soweto, in July 2023. With the dealership owner unable to provide any legitimate proof of ownership, authorities seized the vehicle on the spot. The owner was given seven days to present the necessary paperwork or face legal consequences.
The team also descended on numerous second-hand motor dealerships across Kimberley, inspecting the authenticity of a staggering 214 vehicles to ensure they weren’t stolen, fraudulently registered, or cloned.
In addition to the raids, officials also turned their attention to motor vehicle trailers. Compliance checks were conducted on manufacturer, importer and builder (MIB) companies in Kimberley to check compliance.
To wrap up the operation, a large-scale roadblock was set up along the N8 highway, where SAPS officers and traffic officials stopped and inspected 84 vehicles and 177 individuals. The operation resulted in five traffic fines being issued.
This large-scale operation preceded the quarterly Motor Vehicle Crime Forum meeting scheduled for today in Kimberley. The forum will bring together law enforcement, industry stakeholders, and crime prevention experts to discuss the latest motor vehicle crime trends, share intelligence, and enhance training efforts to keep criminals at bay.
