Cheeky crooks steal from cops

2003-11-03 15:31

Riot Hlatshwayo

Bushbuckridge - Police have recovered a stolen car that cheeky criminals stole from a Limpopo police station where it had been impounded.

The car was recovered last Thursday night, about 100km away in neighbouring Mpumalanga.

It was found in KaNyamazane outside Nelspruit after being stolen from the Mhala police station in Bushbuckridge earlier in the week.

No one has been arrested yet.

Mhala police have taken the car back to Limpopo and will try to trace its rightful owner.

The thieves had cut through the fence of the Mhala police station to get to the car and brought along their own petrol to refuel and speed off.

It was the second time in two years that criminals had robbed the station.

Early last year thieves stole meat and liquor from the police barracks.

Executive mayor of Limpopo's Bohlabela district Caswell Maluleke expressed concern at the theft.

"We expect efficiency and responsibility (at police stations), but at least the police have shown how effective they can be by recovering the car," he said on Monday.

He said the police had to make a concerted effort to catch the criminals, however, as they'd embarrassed the police station.

Maluleke himself is waiting for Mhala police to make an arrest after he was shot 15 times three years ago.

- African Eye