Durban – Eastern Cape authorities have nabbed a 29-year-old
man for allegedly driving a stolen vehicle fitted with fake licence plate and
without a disc.
But the suspected car thief did show some heart. With him in
the vehicle was a hitchhiker who was innocently enjoying the free ride.
The arrest was made on Sunday by members of the Grahamstown
Highway patrol and police.
Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender on Monday said
police were holding a vehicle checkpoint at the Fish River on the N2, when they
spotted a blue Toyota Corolla travelling from Grahamstown towards Peddie.
“The vehicle... made a U-turn and sped towards Grahamstown.
The members of the highway patrol then chased it and managed to pull the vehicle
over a few kilometres away. The licence plates were false and it had no disc
on.
“The driver had provided conflicting versions on his
acquisition.
Upon searching him Constable Mervin Frans found a gate
remote in his wallet and also the original licence disc under his seat. He then
used the chassis number to test it for ownership and it was discovered that the
vehicle was indeed stolen in Durbanville in the Western Cape on Friday morning.
“The passenger, a hitchhiker who was picked up in Port
Elizabeth, was not arrested. The suspect, who resides in Qumbu in the Eastern
Cape, faces a charge of possession of suspected stolen motor vehicle.”
The suspect will appear in the Grahamstown Magistrate's
Court soon.
