Upset motorist opens theft
case against police
By ARETHA LINDEN on
April 8, 2014
Mureed Lucas from Amalinda said his car had been taken to the police’s
Vehicle Safeguard Unit in West Bank in December last year on suspicion of being
stolen.
NOT MY CAR: Mureed Lucas stands next to his vehicle which he claims was
stripped of parts while impounded by police in West Bank Picture: MARK ANDREWS
“I took my car to the traffic department in Arcadia to get clearance. I
was surprised when they told me they suspected it was stolen and it had to be
impounded for investigation.”
He said he had received an SMS from a police officer last week Monday
informing him he could collect the car from the unit as they had completed
their investigation into the matter. “When I arrived at the unit last week
Wednesday the bonnet was open, the battery, radiator and the car’s spoilers
were missing.”
Lucas said he had to hire a tow-truck to get the vehicle home. “When my
car was impounded it was mobile,” he added.
Lucas opened a case of theft at the Fleet Street police station and said
he was also planning to sue the police.
Last year the Daily Dispatch reported that security at the unit had
become lax after car parts were reported stolen from vehicles. There were also
two shooting incidents between police and suspects at the unit, but provincial
police authorities denied security was slack.
The South African Police Union general secretary Oscar Skommere said the
SAPS risked being sued by owners of motor vehicles after police investigations
were completed.
He said: “No one expects their car to be stripped while in the care of
police. It is the responsibility of the SAPS to ensure that these cars are safe
from criminals.”
East London police spokesman Colonel Mtati Tana referred questions to
the provincial police. No response had been received at the time of going to
print. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
