An Operation by members from National Crime Intelligence, Middleburg Flying Squad
and Private Security Company yielded positive results whereby a white Toyota Prado
was recovered after being abandoned by suspects at a certain farm between Hendrina
and Bethal in the evening of Monday, 22 May around 18h30.

Information was received about a suspicious vehicle which had false registration
number plates and its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) was tempered with.

The details were followed then the said vehicle was spotted however upon realizing that
the law enforcement agencies were approaching, the suspects reportedly fled to evade
the arrest, leaving its engine still running. On further inspection, the astute members
realized that the vehicle keys were missing. It was further established during the
preliminary investigation that the suspects cloned the vehicle by tempering its VIN so
that it looks similar to another vehicle of the same make.

The car was impounded for further investigation as well as to determine its rightful and
lawful owner. Forensic investigation will also be conducted in a bid to locate the
suspects that evaded the arrest.

Drivers have been reassured by Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela,
the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, that law enforcement will
continue to make sure that criminals’ operations are prevented.