Daring criminals raid car dealership, target Toyota vehicles worth KSh35 million

Police in the South African province of Mpumalanga yesterday stopped a daring theft in the nick of time. 

Thieves raided a car dealership and targeted eight Toyota vehicles: Four Fortuners, two Hilux-es and two Toyota Land Cruisers all worth an estimated 5 million rands (KSh35 million). 

The thieves unlocked the vehicles and stripped the dashboards as they tried to locate the vehicles’ tracking devices, Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala is quoted by South African media as saying. 

“Extra security features saved a vehicle dealership of vehicles worth about R5 million ,which were already tampered with and some of them reportedly found with engines already running,” said Mohlala.

“The security company which keeps a round the clock monitoring system on the dealership picked up a footage where suspects were seen tampering with the dealership's premises gate,” he added.

The suspects fled when they heard police sirens blaring. 

“On further observation, it was discovered that the suspects reportedly grinded the gate locks to gain entry into the premises," added the police spokesperson.

Criminals in South Africa have a notorious reputation for daringness. 

In December last year, thugs in the same province of Mpumalanga used explosives to blow up an ATM and steal cash. An unspecified amount of money was stolen in the 3:20am incident.