The Acting District Commissioner of Namakwa, Colonel Schalk Andrews praised an off duty police officer, Sergeant JH De Waal for acting tactical and promptly subsequent to receiving a call about theft of wheels from a truck which was standing 20 km South of Garies on the N7.
On Friday, 08 July 2022 the owner of the truck, contacted Sergeant De Waal, to inform him about unknown men with a white Ford Ranger, who were busy stripping his truck of its tyres on the N7.
Sergeant De Waal immediately activated backup as he was off-duty at the time. Members from Garies police station came to offer assistance at the alleged theft complaint.
The suspects fled the scene when they realised that the police were closing in on them. A high speed chase ensued between the police and the suspects in a Ford Ranger. The suspects lost control and drove into a pole, abandoned the bakkie and fled the scene.
The police pursued and chased them on foot and apprehended three suspects in the veld. Five truck wheels to value of R40 000, were recovered loaded in the Ford Ranger Bakkie.
Upon further investigation it was discovered that the bakkie was found driving with false number plates including license disc.
