BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANAE– The Royal Eswatini Police Services (REPS) has recovered 14 stolen cars since the year started as 27 cars were stolen since January 2023.
However, 14 of these had been recovered and returned to their owners as of yesterday. This means that 13 are still in the wrong hands.
Police investigations had uncovered that seven of the stolen motor vehicles were forcefully taken from their owners at gunpoint, while 20 were stolen while parked.
Last week, a yellow Honda Fit valued at E40 000 was stolen while parked at a car park in Mbikwakhe, Matsapha. In another incident, a powdered blue Honda Fit valued at E30 000 was stolen while parked next to the ministerial building in Mbabane.
This week, one of the stolen Honda Fit vehicles was found abandoned at Mvutjini in Ezulwini with some parts stripped off, while a stolen BMW was captured leaving a filling station through CCTV cameras.
Meanwhile, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said motor vehicles are key components of one’s day-to-day life and are of high value. As a result, they are often the target of crime.
She further advised motorists to do everything they can to guard against the theft of their motor vehicle. She said motorists should install trackers and alarms so that criminals could easily be detected before leaving with their cars.
“Phone your home and ask for someone to make sure your driveway is safe and to open and close the gate for you. When returning home after dark, ensure that an outside light is on, or have someone meet you at the gate. Check with your armed response company if they are rendering rendezvous services,” she said.
