Livestock thieves flee but leave crucial evidence behind
Jwaneng police are searching for suspects who allegedly stole 12 cows and confined them in a field near the mining town.
The police officers acted on a tip-off after residents reported cows that were confined in a ploughing field, causing suspicion that they were stolen. According to Jwaneng Station Commander, Superintendent Thuso Basuti, the group of men was using a Honda Fit vehicle, but left it behind when they fled. “When our officers arrived at the crime scene, they found the suspects, but they fled. After a thorough search, the police also discovered a Honda Fit vehicle in the bush loaded with large chunks of animal meat suspected to amount to two cows,” Basuti said. He said farmers in the affected area are working with them in an effort to protect their livestock. “We used the vehicle registration as part of our investigations. The owner was located and revealed that he had lent the car to his friend, whom we are still searching for to assist with the case investigations,” Basuti said. Six of the 12 cows were identified by their owners, while the other six are still unclaimed. Basuti expressed concern that stock theft is on the rise in his policing area, stating that his office receives numerous reports of stock theft cases. Speaking on a different platform on Monday, Kanye Senior Chief representative Kgosi Kwelagobe Mookodi expressed concern over the rising livestock theft cases. He worried about suspects who are being granted bail repeatedly, only to commit the same crime while waiting for trial for previous offences. Kgosi Mookodi emphasised the importance of addressing ongoing cases before the courts rather than releasing suspects on bail, citing that such suspects go on to terrorise farmers.