A pair of teenagers were among seven suspects arrested when four stolen cars were retrieved by the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement officers on Tuesday.

Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said the seizures should “serve as a warning to criminals who think they will not be caught”.

Two young women, aged 19 and 15, were arrested at a vehicle checkpoint in Philippi after the VIN number was found to match a car stolen in Durbanville earlier this year, council officials confirmed in a statement.

Later, a grey Toyota Etios without a rear number plate was pulled over on the N1 near Brackenfell by Ghost Squad members, who patrol in unmarked vehicles.

The driver was found not to have a licence and the registration number matched a vehicle stolen in Delft.

Two women and a man were arrested. They had a 5-year-old child in the vehicle with them.

That same day in Belhar, a traffic officer noticed a black Opel Corsa hatchback driving recklessly, resulting in a chase.

The driver eventually hit a pavement and collided with an electricity box before trying to run away, city officials confirmed.

Passers-by helped the officer catch the suspect.

The vehicle owner was tracked down to his Durbanville home and only realised the car had been stolen when the officers arrived on his doorstep.

A fourth car was seized when Metro Police officers saw a Toyota Cressida drive into a wall in Hanover Park.

The occupants fled the scene and the officers managed to nab one of the suspects, who was charged with being in possession of a stolen vehicle.

Smith applauded the officers’ efforts.

“It is proof of how a seemingly routine stop or vehicle checkpoint can expose some very serious crimes,” he said. News24