Primrose business Auto Lek Spec is warning businesses and the community to be alert.<\/p>\n
Recently a customer brought his vehicle in for repairs and when he came to collect it he discovered that the battery had been stolen.<\/p>
Staff checked the CCTV footage and found that the incident had taken place at noon.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe modus operandi appears to be as follows, one person stands around on the pavement in front of the business on his cellphone watching to see what the movements of the staff and customers are.<\/p>
\u201cHe then gives someone in a white, old model Mazda bakkie with a canopy, the go-ahead to pull up,\u201d said Willie van Heerden, from Auto Lek Spec.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey pull up very close to the targeted vehicle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey obviously have all the tools needed to remove a battery, and then without much effort, the battery is stolen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe person watching the movements of the staff and customers then jumps into the back of the bakkie, and they drive away casually.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is alleged that a similar incident also occurred in Wistaria Road where a truck was parked in front of a business, but the thieves were disturbed when someone from another business saw them.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Don\u2019t share your address with everyone<\/a><\/p>\n Breaking News: Wadeville Licensing Department employees arrested on charges of fraud and corruption involving about R80-million<\/a><\/p>\n \n <\/p>\n \u201cIt was the same Mazda bakkie, but they sped off too quickly for him to get the license plate number,\u201d said van Heerden.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately our cameras cannot zoom in so we can\u2019t see the licence plate number either.\u201d<\/p>\n Van Heerden is appealing to other businesses in the area to be on the lookout as they may also be targeted.<\/p>\n Sgt Styles Maome, the communications officer for the Primrose police, said, \u201cOut of the few incidents reported of theft out of a motor vehicle, we do not have any cases where such a modus operandi was used.\u201d<\/p>\n Incidents can be reported to the Primrose police on 011 842 0500.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za <\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n