Botswana is witnessing a steady increase in motor vehicle thefts with 245 vehicles having been stolen so far.
Police say the lucrative black market for stolen vehicles is active as far as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
A suspect, believed to be part of the syndicate, is in custody.
Information passed to The Telegraph says that more police officers specializing in auto thefts have been deployed in hot spots where motor vehicle thefts are rampant.
The organized car theft syndicate is primarily targeting imported cars, especially Corollas and combis, which have a lucrative market.
A source, who refused to be named, said that it has been established that some “BaZezuru” are implicated with the syndicate that is operating in the Southern African region.
“The country has been hit by motor vehicle thefts at a very alarming rate,” said Detective Assistant Superintendent Joshua Ntau of Motor Vehicle Theft Unit at the Serious Crime Squad.
Ntau told The Telegraph that, as the police, they have identified a few hot spots from where vehicles are frequently stolen and these include Mmopane Village, followed by Mogoditshane, Block 7 and Block 8 in Gaborone, as well as parking areas. Between the 3rd and the 9th of this month about 12 vehicles were stolen of which only four were recovered, he said.
Ntau added that so far police had identified two syndicates involved in vehicle thefts.
“We are watching very closely because of the leads that we are following,” he said, adding that on Sunday police at Ramokgwebana Border Post managed to nail a 35-year-old man who was found in possession of a stolen vehicle and was about to cross into Zimbabwe. They also recovered another car stolen from South Africa.
He said the suspect is expected to appear before the Gaborone Village Magistrate Court sometime this week.
Ntau described the criminal syndicate as professionals and sweet talkers who use fraudulent documents to deceive officials.
He stated that so far about 245 vehicles have been stolen since the beginning of the year, “which is of concern”.
He conceded that the rate of recovery was very low, saying that out of 245 stolen vehicles, only 151 have been recovered.
