Three men were detained following an alleged Bellville fuel theft that triggered an early-morning pursuit through the northern suburbs on Thursday.
SJC Security Services said the men allegedly filled a blue Volkswagen Citi Golf at Engen La Rochelle before leaving without paying. However, police had not independently confirmed the incident or any formal arrests by Thursday afternoon.
Security Officers Pursue Suspects Through Bellville
According to SJC Security, its armed response officers received a panic alarm from the petrol station at approximately 2:21am on 23 July 2026.
Staff reportedly told the officers that three people had filled the vehicle’s tank before leaving the forecourt without making payment. The vehicle allegedly carried a Northern Cape registration.
Security teams began searching the surrounding area and later received information that the vehicle had been spotted on Durban Road.
SJC said the driver allegedly accelerated after noticing the response officers. Additional units joined the Bellville fuel theft pursuit before teams intercepted the car near Old Oak Road.
“All three suspects were detained,” the security company said in a statement quoted by Cape Argus.
Incident Handed To Bellville Police
SJC said it contacted Bellville SAPS after detaining the three occupants. Law enforcement officers then reportedly escorted the suspects to Bellville Police Station, where investigators took over the matter.
However, SAPS had not confirmed whether officers formally arrested or charged the three men. No case number, court date or value for the allegedly stolen fuel had been released.
Engen’s official directory lists the La Rochelle service station at the corner of Meerlust and Suikerbos streets in Bellair, Bellville. The station operates 24 hours a day.
Previous Cape Town Fuel Theft Cases
The alleged Bellville fuel theft follows several separately reported petrol theft cases in Cape Town during April and May 2026.
In one case, police investigated a motorist who allegedly left a Gatesville petrol station without paying for R800 in fuel. Reports later linked the same black Ford Fiesta to alleged incidents involving R500.15 in fuel in Goodwood and R800 at Engen Meadowridge.
Police confirmed arrests connected to some of those earlier incidents. However, authorities have not indicated that the previous suspect had any connection to Thursday’s Bellville case.