Stolen Toyota Land Cruiser recovered after cross-border shootout

Police in Limpopo and the SANDF have recovered a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VX valued at approximately R1 million following a high-speed chase and shootout near the border on Friday, 17 April 2026.

Authorities received an alert from a tracking company about a vehicle that had been stolen in Krugersdorp in March 2026. The vehicle was reportedly travelling at high speed towards the Limpopo River on the western side of the borderline policing area near Musina.

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Police responded swiftly and initiated a pursuit. As the vehicle approached the river, SANDF members, who had already been alerted, moved to intercept it.

When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, its occupants opened fire on both SAPS and SANDF members, leading to a shootout. The suspects subsequently abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, crossing the river into neighbouring Zimbabwe while continuing to fire shots at law enforcement.

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Zimbabwean authorities were notified and searched on their side of the border, but no arrests were made. The stolen grey Toyota Prado was successfully recovered and seized.

In a separate incident, SANDF members on foot patrol shortly after midnight on 16 April 2026 confiscated another vehicle, a Nissan Navara bakkie valued at R667,000.