Goods retrieved by ambush
THE 2016 festive season recorded some of the lowest number of farm-related crime incidents in the Port Alfred/Grahamstown area.
In one incident at Grandon Farm in Lushington Valley, farmer Malcolm Arnolds had a break-in at his residence where a laptop and large amount of meat, groceries and a collection of wine were stolen.
Panther Farm Security responded to a triggered alarm on December 30 alongside Sky Alarms reaction officer Llewellyn Moss and found evidence of the break-in. Being familiar with many of the bush paths, Panther boss Dudley Waters followed his instincts and opted to hide at what he suspected would be the escape path of the suspects. After about 20 minutes of waiting in the bush, four suspects carrying fertiliser bags filled with the stolen goods walked towards where Waters was hiding.
The suspects were surprised by the ambush and warning shots were fired but they managed to escape capture. The suspects dropped the goods and fled while the SAPS dog unit was called to pursue the suspects. Police are investigating the incident and the suspects are still at large.
Police spokesman Captain Mali Govender confirmed the incident and that a case of housebreaking had been opened.
Police clamped down over the New Year weekend and arrested six people across the cluster for violating the Regulations Explosives Act by setting off fireworks. The people were each fined R1 500.
Numerous individuals were arrested for being drunk and disorderly in public while no reports indicate any drunken driving arrests.
Several people were arrested for drug-related offences including possession and dealing in drugs.
On January 1, a police officer arrested a man on a charge of possession of presumed stolen property on West Beach Drive when she noticed him walking half naked down the road. When the police officer asked the man to put some clothes on she noticed the man was carrying an iPhone valued at about R12 000. She requested to see the phone and instructed the man to put the password on the lock screen, which he couldn’t do.
On Monday evening a body was found at Kelly’s Beach. Due to the severe state of decomposition, the body has not been identified and will be sent off for postmortem this week.
Three men were arrested in Alexandria on a charge of murder after they allegedly beat an adult male on Tuesday evening. The man was rushed to the hospital but died due to his injuries on the way there. Allegedly the victim had stolen pigs from the alleged murderers. The three men are in custody and will appear in the Alexandria Magistrate’s Court this week.
“The community cannot take the law into their own hands – no matter the incident they need to contact the necessary authorities,” Govender said.