Two of the recovered speed point machines were reported stolen from a Hillcrest fast food outlet last week.
A JOINT operation between Navic, the ENS Security team and Durban North SAPS saw the recovery of three stolen speed point machines and the recovery of a cloned vehicle on Friday evening in uMhlanga.
This comes after a string of theft cases of speed point machines in the uMhlanga Ridge and village area were reported to the Durban North police station.
According to Haden Searles, chairman of the Durban North/Umhlanga CPF, the cloned vehicle was initially flagged by Navic automatic number plate recognition cameras in the area.
While the suspects linked to the criminal syndicate escaped arrest, Searles believes the recovery could lead to a breakthrough in the cases already opened.
“Prior to this recovery there had been more than six cases of speed point machine theft ranging from service stations to fast food outlets and restaurants in the area. In this case three machines were recovered, two of which have been identified as being stolen from a fast food outlet in Hillcrest last week.
“Police are still trying to trace the owner of the third speed point machine. Two vehicles were also seized in the operation, one of which had been cloned. This also goes to show how local security and the SAPS can work successfully hand in hand,” he said.
Searles added the operational success was also due to the ANPR (Automatic number-plate recognition) cameras.
“This goes to show the ANPR cameras are an invaluable resource in fighting crime. I’m confident police can build a case that will lead to the arrest of those involved in this syndicate. We are still urging restaurant owners and service station managers to remain vigilant of this crime trend,” he said.