Pretoria - A brazen car thief made a mockery of tight security surrounding the Sheraton Hotel & Towers in Pretoria for President George Bush's visit when he made off with a vehicle parked nearby.
The owner of the car works as a contractor at the hotel, but had to park a block away because of tight security. All the streets in the immediate area of the hotel had been closed off.
When the owner returned an hour later his car had vanished. The thief presumably broke the door lock because there was no broken glass on the road.
There has been tight security at the hotel - opposite the Union Buildings - where Bush and his entourage are staying since the US president's arrival in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Members of South African, US and secret security services control hotel security.
Police spokesperson Selby Bokaba said police wouldn't stand by and do nothing if a crime was being committed, but right now their priority was to protect the hotel and its guests.
"We don't foresee a security breach which would have an impact on the area inside or around the hotel during the official visit."
