Notorious Cape Town petrol thief arrested again after brazen fuel theft
The notorious Cape Town petrol thief has been arrested again after being caught up to his old tricks.
On Thursday, the 37-year-old suspect allegedly filled his tank with R800 petrol at Engen Meadowridge, in the southern suburbs, and then drove away without paying after being arrested earlier this month for a similar offence.
The same black Ford Fiesta was caught on camera in a viral video earlier this month as the suspect allegedly filled his tank with R800 worth of petrol at a petrol station in Gatesville and took off without paying.
He allegedly committed the same offence on April 29 at Engen Simon’s Auto Centre in Goodwood, where he filled his tank with R500.15 ULP95 and left without paying.
Days later the suspect was apprehended in Plumstead during a joint operation between Diep River and Secu Watch Protection for drug possession.
A SecuWatch Protection member stated that the suspect allegedly committed the same offence last Thursday.
The member explained: “A suspected petrol thief, previously arrested by Secuwatch for a similar offence, was apprehended once again on Thursday afternoon following a coordinated response involving private security, neighbourhood watch technology, and law enforcement.
“At approximately 3.05pm, Secuwatch received information that the suspect had allegedly stolen petrol worth R800 from Engen Meadowridge.
“The suspect, known to security teams from a prior arrest for petrol theft, was reported to be active in the area once again.
“The breakthrough came at around 4.25pm, when the Plumstead Neighbourhood Watch ANPR camera network detected the suspect vehicle entering the Dick Burton area.
“By 4.40pm Secuwatch members had located the suspect vehicle in Churchill Road, where teams maintained surveillance while coordinating with responding role players. A tactical containment plan was quickly put into action.”
Minutes later, the suspect was caught after being successfully boxed in during a joint effort between Secuwatch and SRU Security and escorted to Diep River SAPS, where he was charged in connection with the alleged petrol theft.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that a 37-year-old male has been arrested for theft and will appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court once he has been charged.