Continued efforts to prevent stolen stock paid off in a joint operation where suspects were arrested by members attached to Stock Theft Unit.
In an intelligence driven operation with the assistance of members from Stock Theft, K9 and District Operation Command Centre followed up information on a vehicle that was transporting cattle from Lady Grey to the Free State. They immediately stopped a white Toyota Single Cab with two occupants pulling a trailer loaded with nine (9) cattle between Lady Grey and Aliwal North. The said vehicle was escorted by a Blue Honda Fit Sedan with four occupants.
Six suspects between the ages of 25 and 45 in both vehicles were arrested, and the nine cattle to the value of R 120 000-00 were recovered. The vehicles as well as branding iron were confiscated. The owner of the cattle was contacted and could positively identify his cattle.
In an unrelated case in Barkly East, members received positive information from a farm owner of a suspicious vehicle in the area. The members identified the suspicious bakkie and stopped it, and upon searching the vehicle, they found two stolen sheep. The 25-year-old man was arrested. The recovered sheep was then handed back to the lawful owner.
All these suspects are appearing today, 17 September 2024 at Lady Grey and the Barkly East Magistrate Courts.
The Joe Gqabi District Commissioner Major General Lindelwa Vellem applauded the members on the successful arrests and recoveries, and she welcomes the positive breakthrough in stock theft cases which is a priority crime in our District.