RIU Arrest and Recovery: Stolen Vehicle Found in Despatch

On Sunday 9 February, a swift and coordinated response by the Atlas Security RIU team led to the successful arrest of a suspect and the recovery of a stolen vehicle in Despatch.

Incident Details:

• Incident Location: Edison Road, Despatch
• Time Reported: 17:12
• Time of Arrest: 18:05

Stolen Vehicle Information:

• Make & Model: Blue Toyota Corolla
• Location of Theft: Methodist Church, Arcadia

Timeline of Events:

At 10:15, a social media alert reported the vehicle stolen from the church. Throughout the day, multiple sightings were shared:

• 11:15: Vehicle spotted in Stanford Road.
• 11:58: Spotted in Uitenhage.
• 13:08: Spotted in Rosedale, Uitenhage.
• 13:13: Case number shared.
• 15:44: SAPS confirmed the case via SMS.
• 17:12: Reports indicated the vehicle was being stripped under the R75 bridge at the Despatch entrance from Gqeberha.

The RIU team immediately responded but found nothing under the bridge. After seeking updated information from community members, a new pin location was shared.

At 17:51, the team returned to Despatch and met the owner and friends searching for the vehicle. Shortly after, the team spotted the stolen Toyota Corolla in Edison Street, with its bonnet open and the rear facing the old Uitenhage road.

Arrest and Recovery:

Atlas Security’s team approached the vehicle from multiple directions and found the suspect using a screwdriver on the engine. Overwhelmed and surrounded, the suspect was detained by Bravo 81. The owner arrived shortly after and positively identified the vehicle as her father’s.

The suspect had removed the wheel caps and placed them in the boot, altered the license plate with black tape to change the numbers from ‘55’ to ‘66’, and removed the registration plate and disk, placing them on the dashboard. A key was found in the ignition along with multiple other vehicle keys. Remarkably, the vehicle was still idling upon discovery.

Law Enforcement Response:

SAPS arrived on the scene, and a case was officially opened. The recovered vehicle was towed to POPS for forensic fingerprinting.

Community & Team Effort:

This arrest was made possible through the vigilant efforts of Atlas Security’s RIU team, SAPS, and members of the 041 Crime Group, who played a crucial role in sharing real-time information. Their collaboration ensured that the stolen vehicle was recovered and a suspect was brought to justice.

This case underscores the importance of community awareness and cooperation in crime prevention. Atlas Security remains committed to protecting our communities and ensuring swift action against criminal activities.