Tip-off leads cops to two stolen VW Polos

TWO VW Polos stolen from a car depot in Greenbushes on Friday have been found in the garage of a house in Kwazakhele.

The cars were found at about 10am yesterday, parked inside a locked garage in Nconco Street.

The recovery comes after members of the Port Elizabeth Flying Squad and the Provincial Organised Crime Unit received a tip-off on the cars’ whereabouts.

Five vehicles – estimated to be worth about R1.3-million – were thought to have been stolen during a robbery at a depot over the weekend.

But yesterday morning, after an audit of the depot cars, police discovered that only four vehicles – all Polos – had been taken.

Police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said a Caddy, initially thought to have been stolen, was found on the depot premises with an empty petrol tank.

“Initially, a Caddy was thought to have been taken but it appears the suspects tried to drive off with it when the vehicle ran out of petrol inside the yard,” she said.

“The suspects then just left the Caddy in the yard between other vehicles. Only during a stock audit did they spot the Caddy out of place in the yard.”

Asked about the two Polos that were recovered, Naidu said police followed up on an anonymous tip that led them to the garage.

“Both cars have been impounded and our forensic experts are going through them to gather evidence.”

The depot heist sparked a series of rumours on social media, with some saying the robbery was linked to two other house robberies earlier in the week.

It was claimed the robberies were linked to the funeral on Saturday of hijacking syndicate leader, Thando Mlilwana.

Mlilwana, nicknamed DeRango, was gunned down outside a tavern in KwaNobuhle last week.

It was claimed the robberies had been committed in his “honour”.

Police confirmed that Mlilwana was a prime suspect in several robberies and hijackings of VWSA staff who were attacked before their lease vehicles were stolen.

Provincial commissioner LieutenantGeneral Liziwe Ntshinga said the tip-off came after reports of the incident were circulated in the media.

“The media plays a critical part in communicating to communities about what is happening within their environments and is a major asset to the police,” she said.

“We commend the community for their efforts in working with the police and encourage them to continue to do so. Through their commitment, the vehicles were recovered so soon.”