Police is calling on the public for information on the 11 private vehicles that were reported missing in Suva and Lautoka between late last month until recently.

Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said all possibilities including stripping vehicles for spare parts were considered.

Contact your nearest Police station if you have seen any one of the vehicles (listed below), Ms Naisoro said.

“We cannot rule out the possibility of that happening because we have had cases in the past of illegal spare parts rackets,” she said.

She said investigations were continuing.

Fiji Taxi Union general secretary Ashwin Lal said stripping down for parts was the safest way to dispose of the car.

He said spare parts had no specific numbers which could be traced.

In a case in which he is familiar with, stolen vehicles were fitted with new number plates and resold.

Garage owner Thomas Sinclair said he had not heard of vehicles being stripped but was aware of number plates being changed and the vehicle used as a pirate taxi.

Another garage owner Rajendra Singh said stealing vehicles, especially new vehicles, had become easy because keys could be programmed at key shops for certain types of cars.

Vehicle types and registration numbers:

• White Toyota Prius IU 013   Stolen from Carnavon St, Suva

• Grey Mitsubishi EM 929   Stolen from Qaranivalu Rd, Kalabu

• White Toyota Prius IN 390   Stolen from Fletcher Rd, Vatuwaqa

• Toyota Prius LH 1200   Stolen from Lot Mala Place, Nadera

• White G-Touring LT1646   Stolen from Vishnu Deo Rd ,Nakasi

• Metallic Blue Honda CRV EM 410  Stolen from 113 Homer Crescent, Lautoka

• White Toyota Prius LR 3672  Stolen from Saru Back Road, Lautoka

• White Toyota Hilux FG 519   Stolen from Lot 24 Gray Rd Martintar

• Brown Hyundai Santa Fe JQ 143   Stolen from Mana St, Lautoka

• Taxi LT 4608   Stolen from Tacirua New Subdivision

• Grey Toyota Prius IC 904   Stolen from Tuvu, Lautoka

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