Three men who sought refuge with stolen cars at a Mamelodi cemetery are set to appear in court next week, police said on Saturday.
Lt-Col Katlego Mogale said the men, who all hold a number of previous criminal convictions, including for car theft, would appear in court on Monday on charges relating to the possession of stolen motor vehicles.
The men, aged between 35 and 40, were arrested this week after police began an investigation into the theft of motor vehicles from dealerships in Pretoria.
On Tuesday, police began following a black Audi into a Mamelodi cemetery.
Once inside, “Tshwane Metro and Mamelodi police pounced on the vehicle”, said Mogale.
The vehicle's registration indicated the car had been stolen in North West this month.
The driver was also found in possession of 24 sets of keys belonging to other cars, including Land Rovers, Volkswagens, Audis and Toyotas.
The man could not explain what he was doing with his extensive batch of keys and was subsequently arrested.
While, still on the scene, police received information about a Volkswagen Golf GTi that had been stolen from a dealer in Brooklyn, said Mogale.
Police searched the cemetery and found the Volkswagen Golf being stripped by two men who fled the scene as police approached.
The men were later arrested in Shoshanguve, this time while driving a Toyota Corolla that had also been stolen in Brooklyn.
The police investigation into the car dealership thefts continues. -Sapa