Police in the Western Cape have warned second-hand dealers to reject and report any suspected stolen goods.
POLICE WARN AGAINST DEALING IN SECOND-HAND GOODS
This follows the break-in at a motor battery shop in Milnerton in the Western Cape on Monday, 9 January, where criminals made off with batteries estimated to the value of over R20 000.
“Let us close the market for stolen goods. It is a crime and is punishable by law – so too is the receiving of such suspected stolen goods.”
Police
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WHY STOLEN GOODS SHOULD NEVER BE ACCEPTED
Police further advised: “Second-hand dealers must not acquire or receive into his or her possession any suspected stolen goods from any other person – only accept goods or items for which proof of ownership are available – and let’s comply with the provision of the Second-hand Goods Act, 2009 (Act No.6 of 2009)”.
Police spokesperson Captain F.C Van Wyk said, on Tuesday, 10 January 2023 members of Maitland Flying Squad followed up on information received about the break-in at the Motor battery shop in Milnerton, the previous night.
“A house was searched in the Brooklyn area and six car batteries were confiscated,” he said.
Captain F.C Van Wyk added that five suspects between the ages 28 and 66 were arrested and detained at Milnerton SAPS on a charge of possession of the stolen property.
“Upon further investigation, members found seven more batteries at a pawn shop in Table View. The value of the batteries are estimated at R 21 000-00. The suspects appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s court on Thursday morning on the mentioned charges,” Captain Van Wyk detailed.
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WHY BATTERIES ARE AN EASY TARGET
Why do battery thieves steal car batteries? According to Annewetey.com, car batteries are a popular target for thieves because they’re easy to steal, easy to sell and virtually untraceable. There is a big market for second-hand batteries in a lot of countries. Stolen batteries find their way to unscrupulous battery dealers, auto electricians, mechanic shops or to scrap metal dealers. Car batteries are 70% Lead Pb by weight. Selling scrap lead is a very lucrative business.
