Algerian man arrested for cloning cars

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said the North West Vehicle Identification Section confiscated 13 suspected cloned cars from owners on Wednesday. “The investigation and confiscation came after The Insurance Crime Bureau did an audit on accident damaged vehicles that were re-registered on e-Natis System,” he said.

“Upon confiscating the cars, the police were informed that the cars were bought from one of the second hand car dealers in Klerksdorp. It was established from the car dealer that the cars were supplied by a 35-year-old Algerian national, Toufik Salmi.”

Salmi was traced and found at his place where two more cars were also confiscated. He was arrested and appeared in Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

“The accused was granted R4, 000 bail, and will appear in court again on May 18. All confiscated cars are Volkswagen [VW] Polos, and were reported stolen in Gauteng province between 2011 and 2015.”

Mokgwabone said this was another major recovery of suspected cloned cars in the province in less than a year after 15 cloned cars were impounded for physical inspection between 2 June and July 2014.

“At this stage, the investigation has revealed that the modus operandi used by the suspects include identifying a salvaged car that will be bought from an agent of an insurance company. Then a similar vehicle will be stolen and the engine as well as VIN numbers of the salvaged vehicle will be transferred to the stolen vehicle.”

“The car would be taken for roadworthy, license renewal, thus lawfully registering them and ultimately sold to either a dealer or an individual.”