Six suspects were handcuffed and thrown into police vans on Sunday evening. They face charges of theft, possession of presumed stolen property and fraud.
SIX SUSPECTS FLEE FROM DEWETSDORP POLICE STATION
According to the report from the South African Police Service (SAPS), the madness happened in the Free State town of Dewetsdorp.
A bizarre group of men, aged 23 to 45, arrived at the petrol station in a black VW Microbus to fill up the tank. The card payment declined and that was when the six suspects decided it was time to run away like naughty boys.
“It is alleged that on Sunday, 23 January 2022, a group men arrived at a filling station in Dewetsdorp in a black Volkswagen microbus at about 18:30,” said Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane.
“The bank card declined as they were making a payment for the fuel and they fled the scene. The police were called to the scene and, on arrival, initiated a preliminary investigation.
“Information led the police to Riverside Location where the vehicle was found abandoned and the police went searching for the suspects on foot. All six suspects, with ages from 23 to 45 years old, were arrested.”
MICROBUS STOLEN IN ESTOIRE
The runaway from the petrol station was only half the drama and foolishness. According to Covane’s added details in the report, one of the six suspects had tried to be clever while he was buying the microbus vehicle.
He had deposited money to buy it from a seller in Estoire, but quickly canceled the transaction after he had been given the keys to the vehicle. So crazy hey?
“Further information revealed that a case of fraud was opened at Navalsig Police Station. An advertisement to sell the microbus was placed on social media networks by a seller living in Estoire,” Covane added.
“One of the suspects showed interest and arrived in Estoire where he made the transaction to purchase the vehicle. The unsuspecting seller handed over the documents and the bus. After the suspect had left with the vehicle, the seller noticed that the transaction was cancelled. A case of Fraud was then opened on Friday 21 January 2022.
“The suspects are still in police custody. They will appear in Dewetsdorp Magistrate Court on Tuesday, 25 January 2022.”
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