Four due in court for thefts from cars

Four men believed to be linked to a syndicate responsible for a spate of thefts out of motor vehicles in Pietermaritzburg.

Durban - Four men believed to be linked to a syndicate responsible for a spate of thefts out of motor vehicles in Pietermaritzburg, were expected in court today when they will apply for bail.

The men were arrested last week by members of the SAPS Cluster Tracking Team with the assistance of the detectives at SAPS Pietermaritzburg.

Police spokeswoman, Lieutenant Joey Jeevan, said the officers had arrested the four at a beer hall in Retief Street.

Further investigations had led police officers to the Esogodini area in Plessislaer where they had recovered two firearms, a Z88 9mm pistol and a CZ 7.65mm pistol in the rooms of two of the suspects, Jeevan said.

The firearms had been stolen from vehicles in June and July this year, she said.

Police believed the suspects were linked to 20 other cases of theft out of motor vehicles in Pietermaritzburg.

Clothing, documents, jewellery, cash, cellphones and electronic equipment to the value of about R100 000 were stolen out of vehicles between May and July this year.

The four - Siphamandla Khoza, 27, Andile Shezi, 24, Siphamandla Basi, 23, and a 17-year-old juvenile – made their first appearance at the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court last week.

Jeevan confirmed that further arrests were imminent.

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