Police have arrested sixteen people, inclusive the owner of a tyre fitment centre, his wife and son as well as taxi drivers after they were caught in the act of loading suspected stolen tyres onto a truck inside the tyre fitment centre on Roger Sishi Road in New Germany, Pinetown on Sunday afternoon.

Police received reports of a truck that was reportedly hijacked in mysterious circumstances in Umbilo on Saturday afternoon, 15 July 2023. The truck was recovered within an hour in Springfield but it was empty. Intelligence led the police to a tyre fitment centre in New Germany where the suspects were found loading the suspected stolen tyres onto another truck. Preliminary investigations suggests that the hijacked truck made a stop at the tyre fitment centre to offload the tyres before it was abandoned in Springfield.

An off duty police officer was also arrested after he was found at the crime scene and his presence inside the premises is being investigated. His vehicle has also been impounded for further investigations.

Source: South African Police Service