Police this week said they have managed to arrest David Molefe who is a key suspect in the motor vehicle theft in the country.
Police say Molefe has been in the car thefts business since the year 2000.
It is claimed that on average the suspect could steal about three cars a day and ensured that they crossed the border into South Africa immediately where the market is lucrative.
Motor Vehicle Theft Unit at Serious Crimes Detective Superintendent Joshua Ntau has confirmed Molefe’s arrest to The Telegraph.
“At long last police have arrested a suspect who has been for a very long time recruiting, guiding and coordinating motor vehicle theft in Botswana. Such cases have now declined significantly since his arrest,” said Ntau.
Ntau described Molefe aged 46 from Mmathubudukwane village in Kgatleng district as a “career criminal” at heart.
“He is a sweet tongue, smart and non violent person in his career.”
Ntau explained that the suspect who is also a previous convict of motor vehicle theft first came into the police radar about 16 years ago.
“He is now a regular police customer in motor vehicle theft,” said Ntau.
“Sadly he has been recruiting women in the car theft profession and the police are still following leads on the crucial role that women play in this business,” he said.
“I am not sure exactly where he learnt how to steal vehicles professionally and that is too difficult to answer,” he said.
Ntau said currently the suspect is linked to more than 20 vehicles that he might have stolen almost two years ago after serving his ten year prison sentence.
Police believe those vehicles already crossed the border.
“Since his release we have been experiencing a good number of motor vehicle theft in which on average the suspect could steal about three vehicles a day and ensure that they immediately crossed the border to South Africa where the market is lucrative,” he said.
Ntau revealed that the suspect is “sophisticated” as he hardly leaves a trail or any trace from the crime scene.
“In the last sixteen years of his career he has not used violence when stealing cars. And most of the cars that he targets are stationary, with no driver inside.”
