GALOOME SHOPANE Two Gauteng alleged car thieves will remain in police custody, following their first appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate court today. Moeti Tabola and Thabiso Baloyi were apprehended last Friday during a blitz crime prevention operation in Bloemfontein’s Central Business District.
A police statement indicated that the two men, who are both in their early thirties are “wanted and notorious suspects who had been on the run after their involvement in a series of criminal activities in both Gauteng and Free State.”
Tabola and Baloyi were caught with a Mercedes-Benz sedan containing “car breaking implements and gate remotes”. Further investigation led to the police discovering that the car was reported stolen in Sandton, at the beginning of the year.
Police spokesperson Chaka Marope says “the two men will probably be transferred back to Sandton and Randburg where they will appear for cases that they have allegedly committed over there.”
Marope says they are working together with investigating officers from Sandton and Randburg. ” We’re going to exchange the two suspects to appear in different courts for the offences that they have allegedly committed,” he says.
In the Free State the men were wanted in Welkom, Navalsig and Park Road. “They were wanted for crimes ranging from armed robbery, theft of motor vehicles and bribery in both provinces.”
The case has been postponed until next Tuesday (30 July) for bail application.
