Blanco horse owners unsettled
Kristy Kolberg
Horse owners in Blanco are nervous because alleged horse thieves are back in the community without having appeared in court.
Two suspects (27 and 33) from Golden Valley in Blanco were arrested on 31 July after two horses were stolen from a livery yard in Maitland Street.
The equines were recovered shortly after owner Linda Squair, realised at 07:30 on Monday
30 July that her horses were gone.
Andrea Auerbach, a student inspector at the Garden Route SPCA who lives in Blanco, recognised the horses on her way to work. When she stopped to confront the riders, they jumped off and fled, leaving the horses in the road. The two suspects were later pointed out by the community and arrested.
On enquiry Sergeant Michael Opperman, George police communications officer, said that the court case has been postponed for further investigation. “The case has not been finalised. At this stage we can’t divulge too much information as it might hamper the investigation,” he said. However, no postponement date for the court case could be confirmed.
Meanwhile Blanco horse owners are sleeping with one eye open.
“We are concerned for the wellbeing of not only our horses, but all the other horses in the area. This is a serious offence and for once, with the help of the community, the culprits were caught. They even confessed to taking the horses without permission. We just want to know what is being done regarding this case and if the police are even taking this seriously?” a horse owner in the area, who wants to stay anonymous, told the George Herald.
In a separate incident earlier in July, two other horses were also stolen in the area. They were both found in a field outside their paddock the next morning. One of the horses sustained an injury to one of her hind legs and was wearing a bridle when she was found.