The stolen TLB: supplied
Police in Nelson Mandela Bay have recovered a heavy-duty construction vehicle in George - hundreds of kilometres away from where it was stolen in Zwide.
Its believed that a syndicate, operating across the province, had stolen the TLB construction grader from Koyana Street in Zwide on the 11th of January, the day after it was hired out under false pretenses.
Colonel Priscilla Naidu says the Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit in the Metro established that a suspect had sent a false proof of payment of R25 200 to the complainant.
On visiting the construction site to check on his vehicle, the owner found that his TLB was missing and subsequently established that the grader had been towed to George by a towing company for an amount of R19 975.
Colonel Naidu says that with the assistance of the owner, police investigations led them to George and Heidelberg and the ultimate recovery of the TLB in George - it has since been returned to its rightful owner.
Several people who bore knowledge of, or had a vested interest in the stolen grader, were interviewed but at this stage there have been no arrests.
Colonel Naidu says the Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit investigators are following up on several positive leads and expect to make arrests soon.
Scribante Construction, Moss Plant Hire and Stu Davidson & Sons all report having had construction vehicles stolen last year.
They stated at the time that they believed a syndicate was involved.
