In a shocking incident at the Pretoria Ford Motor Company, thieves executed a daring heist, making off with engines worth an estimated R1.1 million.
The brazen crime involved 36 engines that mysteriously vanished from the company’s premises.
The investigation into the stolen engines was initiated when the Ford Motor Vehicle Company of South Africa (FMCSA) suspected the possibility of theft.
Prompt action by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, led to significant progress in solving the case.
Following thorough investigations, law enforcement authorities apprehended four suspects, including two FMCSA security personnel, a mechanical repair shop owner, and a truck driver on July 20, 2023 in Pretoria.
These suspects were caught with some of the suspected stolen property, and they are now facing serious charges related to the heist.
According to the Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale, the information that prompted the investigation came from FMCSA.
Upon delving deeper into the matter, it was revealed that the theft had allegedly occurred right at the FMCSA premises.
The criminals utilized a courier service truck to load racks containing a total of 36 engines before making their escape.
An intriguing twist in the investigation occurred when the truck was traced to Charles Leyds Street in Eersterus.
It was here that the stolen cargo was unloaded under the instructions of a forklift instructor.
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Despite finding the racks and forklift at the location, the engines were nowhere to be found.
Two elderly individuals present at the premises claimed to have no knowledge of the cargo, deepening the mystery.
The Ford Motor Company plant, located in an industrial area on the outskirts of Silverton, is renowned for overseeing the production of midsize pickup trucks.
The suspects, aged between 29 and 44. are scheduled to appear in the Pretoria Magistrates’ court on July 24, 2023.
They are facing charges for theft and possession of suspected stolen motor vehicle parts worth an estimated R1.1 million.
