Christian Botha, Private Investigator
Christian Botha is honest, trustworthy and confidential. His methods are both conventional and original as the case demands.
Case Files | Stolen Construction Equipment - Car Chase
Credits
Courtesy of Daily Dispatch
Image: Christian Botha
FOUR
men were arrested on Friday in possession of stolen construction
equipment valued at about R350000 after a dramatic, high-speed car
chase
by a private investigator ended at a police roadblock. The men
were arrested on the outskirts of Queenstown at around 2pm after
leading Gonubie-based PI Christian Botha on a 40km car chase.
The suspects were found with equipment allegedly stolen from a Sontinga
Consulting site in Transkei including a compactor, a Bomag 35 used to
compact pipe trenches, and several other items used in construction
. Botha said he had been mandated by the Gonubie-based consulting
company
last week on Tuesday to look into the theft of the equipment.
“We took on the case and our investigation led us to identify a
possible suspect,” he said. “I then contacted the criminal intelligence
gathering (CIG)
unit of the (police) in Queenstown and shared my information with
them. “Along with the police we started surveillance on the
suspect earlier that (Friday) morning,” said Botha. “He was seen
driving in a white bakkie with construction equipment on the back
travelling between Tsomo and Cofimvaba with three other men.”
Botha said he started tailing the men as they were driving along the
R61 in the direction of Queenstown. “They were driving at high
speed and I was battling to keep up,” he said. While he was
tailing the men the police set up a roadblock on the N6 and waited for
them. “The suspects eventually turned off the R61 onto the N6 and
were heading in the direction of Queenstown when a dog unit vehicle
intercepted them and gave chase,” said Botha.
“The men tried to get away but were eventually forced to stop when they
hit the roadblock.” Tim Wood, of Sontinga Consulting, said they
had hired Botha to help investigate the theft of the equipment on July
15. “Our on-site security guard was chased away and a container
was broken into and the equipment removed,” said Wood.
“We lost two Bomags, two compactors and some other equipment with a
replacement value of around R350000. “I’ve heard of this kind of
thing happening to other companies working in Transkei and there are
apparently syndicates operating.” Wood said some of the equipment
stolen belonged to the company, while some had been hired.
“I’m not really sure what’s been recovered as yet, but we are monitoring the situation.”
Police spokesperson Lieutenant- Colonel Gcinikhaya Taleni confirmed
that four men were arrested to face charges of theft. “The
youngest was 21 and the oldest was 35,” he said.
They were due to appear in court yesterday.