Durban - Police have uncovered a chop-shop specialising in Toyotas and recovered 150 log books.
The failure by car thieves to find a tracking device in a Toyota Tazz that had been stripped to its bare shell, led to the bust.
The silver Tazz was stolen from a home in Sydenham on Tuesday, but when police found it on Wednesday morning the car had been ripped apart.
It had been fitted with a tracking system which led police to Folweni C-Section.
The property overlooks a long stretch of unpaved road which leads to it.
This is believed to have enabled the thieves see police were on their way and given them time to flee.
Police found several other vehicle parts and car accessories.
Police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker confirmed two cases of theft of motor vehicles had been opened at Tongaat and Sydenham SAPS.
“The vehicle parts were taken to the Isipingo SAPS vehicle pound. No arrests were made,” he said.
Police found 150 log books hidden in one of the rooms on the property.
Police believe the syndicate was targeting Toyota vehicles.
Car interiors, bonnets, doors and pieces of other cars, including a Hilux bakkie, were found strewn in the yard and buildings on the property.
Police also found five car engines which still had their engine numbers. The items recovered were estimated to be worth about R200 000.
The bust was made by the Durban Vehicle Task team, comprising metro police, SAPS, Tracker and the police airwing.
Daily News