Suspected ‘chop shop’ uncovered in Newlands as stolen vehicles recovered
KZN VIP, in a statement, said upon their arrival at the premises, teams located the stolen vehicle parked inside the property. After gaining access to the yard, officers made a further discovery that raised immediate suspicion.
A suspected vehicle chop shop has been uncovered in Newlands East following a co-ordinated operation that led to the recovery of multiple stolen vehicles and vehicle parts. The discovery was made on Sunday, March 15, after intelligence gathered on a stolen vehicle led tracking agents and private security teams to a property just off Joyce Road in the Inanda Road area.
Members from various tracking companies, private security firms and KZN VIP Protection Services Reaction Units conducted the operation after receiving information that a stolen vehicle was believed to be in the area.
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KZN VIP, in a statement, said upon their arrival at the premises, teams located the stolen vehicle parked inside the property. After gaining access to the yard, officers made a further discovery that raised immediate suspicion.
Multiple additional vehicles were found on the property, some with their number plates removed. Checks conducted on the vehicles confirmed that they had been reported stolen from several areas in northern Durban, including Verulam and Ballito.
Among the recovered vehicles were Toyota Fortuners and other high-value vehicles, believed to have been targeted by organised vehicle theft syndicates. Investigators also discovered numerous vehicle parts scattered across the property, believed to have been stripped from stolen vehicles.
The findings strongly indicated that the premises were being used as a vehicle stripping operation, commonly referred to as a chop shop. The security guard believed to have been stationed at the property reportedly fled the scene when security teams arrived, and no suspects were found on the premises at the time.
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The police were notified, and officers were dispatched to take over the investigation following the significant recovery.
SAPS spokesperson, Cpt Ntathu Ndlovu, confirmed that an inquiry has been opened. “Newlands East police have launched an inquiry looking into a local establishment on Inanda Road in Newlands East, suspected of operating as an alleged vehicle chop shop. This follows the recovery of multiple vehicles and vehicle parts on the property on March 15, 2026,” said Cpt Ndlovu.
