Cops have arrested 13 suspects in connection with a case of vandalism at a larney car dealership last month in which a number of showroom models were damaged.
The suspects are expected to make their first appearance at the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court today after being arrested over the weekend.
The bizarre incident on 17 February, which saw a group of about 40 men enter The Toy Shop in Milnerton and smash several car windows, was captured on CCTV and the video footage went viral on social media.
Pictures showed damage done to models including Porsche, Aston Martin and a Nissan GT-R.
At the time of the incident a trader, who introduced himself under the false name Marc Jackson, said the owner of the dealership, Gregory Jackson, was not willing to speak to the media.
Marc, who said he was present during the attack at 11.15am, explained that around 40 men arrived in two Toyota Quantum taxis and a bakkie, and claimed it was a botched robbery.
However, a police source told the Daily Voice the cars were smashed after the owner allegedly refused to pay protection money to an underworld protection syndicate.
“It was definitely the underworld protection rackets,” says the source.
“They came into the dealership and demanded two cars because the shop wasn’t under the protection of the ‘big boss of the Western Cape’.
“They then started smashing the cars, but we don’t know who this big boss is that they were referring to.”
The source says in the past week, the Organised Crime Unit has started arresting suspects and taking them to Maitland Police Station.
“By Saturday there were 10 guys in the cells and they come from all over. It is not clear what gang they are from but they come from Bishop Lavis, Manenberg, Hanover Park and other areas and are aged between 20 and 50 years old.
“They are being charged with robbery for the cellphones they took from the staff and malicious damage to property.”
Police spokesperson, Colonel Andrè Traut, confirms the arrests and says: “Our investigation into the incident at a car dealership where vehicles were damaged led to the arrest of 13 suspects in total.
“They are scheduled to make their court appearances [today] in Cape Town.”