Seven suspects arrested after stolen Land Cruiser recovered in Mpumalanga

Seven men, including six Mozambican nationals, have been arrested in connection with a house robbery in which a Toyota Land Cruiser was stolen near White River, Mpumalanga.

The suspects, aged between 29 and 52, were arrested in Mataffin, Mbombela, on Thursday, following an intelligence-driven investigation by a multidisciplinary team comprising the police’s Ehlanzeni Anti-Hijacking Team, Provincial Tracking Team and Crime Intelligence, working with private security companies.

According to police, the investigation began on Wednesday, 14 October, after off-duty members of the Ehlanzeni Anti-Hijacking Team received information about a house robbery in Brondal, near White River, during which a beige Toyota Land Cruiser was stolen.

The team mobilised to track the vehicle after receiving information that it was in the Low’s Creek area and possibly heading towards the Mozambique border.

The vehicle was subsequently found hidden in bushes next to the R38 road in Low’s Creek, without any suspects nearby. It was taken to the Low’s Creek police station and booked in for further investigation.

Police later arrested the seven suspects and recovered the Land Cruiser’s keys, along with items allegedly stolen from the victim during the house robbery.

During preliminary investigations, officers also recovered items linked to another burglary reported in Mbombela in September.

Police said investigations were continuing to establish whether the suspects could be linked to other similar crimes, adding that further charges could not be ruled out.

The suspects are expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of possession of suspected stolen property and house robbery.

Mpumalanga police commissioner Lieutenant General Apaphia Modise commended the officers for their dedication, particularly those who acted on the information despite being off duty.

“Perpetrators of crime must know that we will never allow an opportunity for them to operate in our space. We will continue to work with all our stakeholders to ensure that those who terrorise our communities are arrested and face the full might of the law,” Modise said.

She said the recovery and arrests demonstrated what could be achieved through collaboration.