54 year old Thabo Glen Raphoto was sentenced to five years imprisonment after hijacking a bus valued R400 000. The culprit was sentenced at Thabazimbi Migistrate Court on the 28 September 2016.
Warrant Officer Van Heerden of Modimolle vehicle Investigation Service (VIS) led investigations after a white, Volvo bus with tinted windows was hijacked in Johannesburg on the 2nd of January 2016. The culprit was not aware that the bus had a tracker.
After the bus was reported hijacked, the owners quickly circulated messages about its theft and they soon were able to track its whereabouts and the direction it was travelling near Hootpal.
According the police, when a car is stolen and a docket is opened, the local police station alerts VIS who will then work on tracking it down.
Hootpal is situated between Belgevier and Thabazimbi, its jurisdiction of Justice is within Thabazimbi and its policing area falls under Lephalale cluster. All motor theft cases in this cluster are investigated by VIS at Modimolle.