#StockTheft successes EASTERN CAPE – Efforts to eliminate stock theft through v…

#StockTheft successes

EASTERN CAPE – Efforts to eliminate stock theft through visible policing and covert operations resulted in the following successes in the past weeken:

Maluti STU members received an information of cattle that are hidden at Siphola Mountains on 04 April 2019 and proceeded there where they recovered Two (2) cattle. All stock was kept at Maluti stock pound.

In another unrelated incident, Maluti Vispol members received a complaint of shooting incident by a 38y ears old male at Black diamond location on Saturday, 06 April 2019.

They immediately went out to the scene of crime and upon their arrival they interviewed the complainant who told them that the incident of shooting occurred at about 20:00 where culprits fired shots through the window of the house including the room where the victim slept.

Furthermore, the victim told them that twenty three (23) sheep were taken from the kraal as well. Vispol members followed the tracks of the livestock until they reached at Lehlohonolo and Sibi A/A where they stopped an oncoming vehicle infront of them.

Inside the vehicle they found three males from Bizana driving the motor vehicle. On further searching, they found fourteen (14) sheep and one already slaughtered, loaded in their vehicle.

A case of armed robbery, stock theft, attempted murder and possession of illegal firearm were opened and under investigation. All the firearms recovered will be sent to the forensic lab to ascertain whether they were used in earlier commission of crime.

All three suspects, males aged 21, 36 and 48 years appeared today at Maluti Magistrate's Court and case was remanded to 11 April 2019 for formal bail hearing. Their Motor vehicle was confiscated and impounded at Afsondering SAPS while the Sheep were impounded for further investigation.

Owner of the livestock was informed to come and identify his livestock and he positively confirmed that the sheep belonged to him stock. Mthatha Stock theft Unit at Bityi with Bityi Vispol were doing an operation when they stopped a white Toyota Bakkie and searched it.

Four males were found in the vehicle with twenty two (22) sheep without necessary documents for transporting of stock. The four occupants, aged 25, 29 and 31 were arrested for Possession of Stolen Stock.

The twenty two (22) sheep recovered were loaded in the vehicle while nine (09) sheep were positively identified and handed to rightful owner. Another ten (10) were positively identified when the owner came to open a case. Three (3) sheep have not been identified yet.

In another incident, eighteen sheep alleged to have been missing on the farm of Mr Van Rooyen at Dordrecht were recovered by SAPS after police followed an information about some sheep hidden in the shed in the neighbourhood.

Police followed this information to the said farm and they found the sheep inside the shed. Mr Van Rooyen was called in order to come and have a look on those sheep and he identified them as his. There were fourteen sheep recovered and three (3) are still missing.

Two male suspects were detained at Dordrecht police station and are expected to appear at Dordrecht Magistrates Court facing a charge of stock theft tomorrow, 09 April 2019.

A crime intelligence driven operation involving Queenstown STU started on the N6 route entering the farm Grey Craig early today at about 1h30 when police observed a bakkie coming out of the farm with twenty (20) sheep and it was chased and stopped.

Another bakkie with a trailer came out of the farm loaded with twenty three (23) sheep and it was stopped as well. Forty three (43) sheep in total were recovered and the sheep were handed to the owner Mr Edward Milns.
Six (6) suspect and a minor 41, 44, 48,49, 63 and16 years were arrested and will appear at Queenstown Magistrate's Court on Tuesday 09 April 2019. All vehicles (sentra, toyota single cab and mazda d/cab with trailer) that were used have been confiscated.

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