Cape Town - The Grassy Park Community Policing Forum (CPF) is probing the theft of a mobile loo at Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
According to a source, the brazen thieves arrived at the facility in a Toyota Quantum and cut the chains the pinned the toilet.
It is suspected the thieves could have taken the toilet for business purposes during the festive season.
“There was a problem where the wind used to blow toilets over and they chained it down.
“And at around 1:30am a Quantum was spotted and the occupants clearly came prepared and had bolt cutters.
“In Zeekoevlei there is security and to get to the toilet one has to drive all the way to the back and then get to the Law Enforcement base. So the thieves took advantage because there are drivers who use Quantum’s to pick up staff. They came prepared.
“They couldn’t have taken the toilet to place it in an informal settlement, I think this is business-related.”
Grassy Park CPF spokesperson, Howard Downs, said they were working on the case.
“That toilet was stolen by someone who saw the opportunity. It's a very lucrative commodity in the festive time.
“If you have a toilet like that, if you’re hiring it out everyday you could be looking at a lot of money.
“The detectives will go and have a look.
“I'm sure they will have a look at the footage and pick-up to see who stole it. The van went into Schaapkraal, we are on this case, to get to the bottom of this.
“Who steals a toilet? What did they do with the excrement, it could have been full of poo.
“Since the nature reserve was closed, the City reportedly hired the toilets for the people who are cleaning the vlei.”
Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk, confirmed a case was opened.
“According to reports the complainant left his mobile toilet trailer at Shortline Drive, Zeekoeivlei Nature Reserve, and all was in order.
“On his return he found that the toilet was stolen. A theft case was opened for investigation.”
Meanwhile, two suspects have appeared in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court for the possession of a stolen vehicle and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, after a shootout with police.
Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie said: “Members attached to Maitland Flying Squad spotted two suspicious vehicles driving on the N2 highway past the R300 bridge towards Strand. Members gave chase and on inspection of the registration plates discovered that one of the two vehicles was reported as stolen in the Milnerton precinct, earlier, while the second vehicle was identified as the get-away vehicle. The members blocked off both vehicles of which the occupants disembarked and fled on foot with some of them opening fire in the direction of the police members. A shootout ensued and two of the suspects sustained gunshot wounds. The members managed to arrest two more suspects, while the wounded had been hospitalised under police guard.”
Cape Argus