Ongwediva
A Toyota double cab taken in for a routine service at Pupkewitz Toyota on Friday went missing from the dealership and by yesterday had still not yet been recovered.
Manager at Pupkewitz Toyota George Bence confirmed the incident, but said it was not clear how the car was removed from the premises. The car is said to have disappeared while in the queue at the wash bay.
Spokesperson of the police in Oshakati Warrant Officer Thomas Aiyambo said the missing vehicle is a 2014 model white double cab Toyota Hilux with the registration number N38SH. Aiyambo said the car’s engine number is IGRH025305 with the chassis number AHTEU39GX00002322. A police source said the car was serviced by 10h00 but was discovered missing after 15h00. Bence said the police were still busy investigating the case.
“Criminals are all over, we still do not know how the car disappeared. We informed the police immediately and the investigation is ongoing to determine how the car vanished,” said Bence.
Bence said in the meantime the company had already hired extra security guards at the premises to avoid further theft. The company was also busy installing surveillance cameras to avoid a similar incident.
Bence said what happened was unfortunate and was the first such incident in the past 11 years in which they have been doing business in the north. Bence assured their usual customers to continue frequenting the business, saying the company is doing everything possible to ensure their assets are well looked after.
“Our usual and new customers are always welcome. We want to carry on providing good service. We did not forsee the incident and we are really sorry,” said Bence.
The police have appealed to the public to assist in tracing the stolen car.
Aiyambo advised residents of Oshana to ensure their gates are always locked, adding that criminals have of late been targeting expensive cars in the region.