A 23-year-old Grahamstown man is facing theft charges after he was caught by police selling stolen goods, including a fridge, microwave, washing machine and vacuum cleaner, from the back of a donkey cart.
A 23-year-old Grahamstown man is facing theft charges after he was caught by police selling stolen goods, including a fridge, microwave, washing machine and vacuum cleaner, from the back of a donkey cart.
The man was arrested in connection with the sale of the stolen property to five residents.
The five appeared in the Grahamstown Magistrate’s Court earlier this week on charges of receiving stolen property.
All the property was recovered by police.
Police spokesperson lieutenant Luvuyo Mjekula said that the police are closing the net on traders of stolen goods and said that this will send a stern warning to anyone found buying stolen property.
According to Mjekula, Grahamstown station commander, Colonel Vuyisiwe Tembani had put her foot down on the sale and purchase of stolen property.
"People who buy stolen property encourage theft, while we (as police) try to do the opposite.
If you buy stolen property, we will arrest you,” Tembani reportedly said.
Mjekula said Colonel Tembani also warned members of the public who park their vehicles at grocery stores to be on the lookout for thieves who use electronic devices to gain access to their vehicles.
According to Mjekula, this is after Grahamstown police noted an increase in cases of theft out of vehicle, particularly in mall parking lots.
“Make sure all doors are locked before leaving your vehicle.
Be alert, look around to make sure that no valuable goods are left visible in your car,” he said.
According to Mjekula police recently confiscated three remote gate keys that criminals apparently used to override the remote keys of vehicles.
In a separate incident, Alicedale police arrested a 40-year-old man on charges of possession of drugs after 50 mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of R3 000 were found on him.
He was due to appear in the Grahamstown Magistrate’s Court this week.
