Sheep in shack lead to big breakthrough in stock theft probe
AUTHORITIES have made a major breakthrough in probing a Nelson Mandela Bay stock theft syndicate following the arrest of two suspected thieves yesterday morning.
This was revealed days after farmers threatened to take the law into their own hands due to rampant stock theft on the outskirts of the metro.
According to police and residents, syndicates have been targeting these areas and stolen more than 155 sheep, 50 pigs and several cows over the past six weeks.
The latest arrest came after detectives went to a house in Matikizela Street, KwaNobuhle, yesterday for an unrelated matter.
Police spokesman Warrant Officer Basil Seekoei said on arrival detectives heard “banging noises” coming from a temporary shack behind the main house.
“The officers found two occupants inside the home and asked them to unlock the shack. Three sheep were found inside and still alive.
“The stock theft unit managed to establish that the sheep were stolen from a farm in Kruis River, in the Uitenhage area, during the night. The two suspects are known to police and have been on our radar for some time.”
The owner of the sheep, farmer Gavin Collins, said at least 13 sheep had been stolen off his farm in recent months. “I am just glad they managed to make an arrest.
“Hopefully this means our animals will be safer. The stock theft unit has been doing excellent work. That they managed to recover the sheep within hours of them being stolen is an example of this,” Collins, 44, added.
Yesterday detectives revealed the integrated network was linked to several underground criminal syndicates, all with ties to illegal poaching groups and perlemoen poachers.
Specialist investigator and stock theft task team commander Captain Gary du Randt said: “Over the past month, the unit has arrested 23 suspects for illegal poaching of duiker and kudu, as well as stock theft. We are investigating linkages which connect these suspects to at least 70 other cases in and around the area.”
THIRTY-FIVE wanted suspects in a string of criminal cases were arrested in a series of raids around Nelson Mandela Bay from Thursday night to yesterday morning.
The raids form part a joint initiative between seven police stations in the Mount Road Police Station cluster.
Police spokesman Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said more raids were planned as part of a campaign to clamp down on crime in the city.
“The suspects were arrested throughout Port Elizabeth on various charges ranging from robbery, housebreaking, assault, fraud and other related crimes,” she said. “We want criminals to know we will catch and arrest them even when they are sleeping in their beds and don’t expect it.”
Cluster commander General Dawie Rabie welcomed the arrests and commended detectives for swiftly nabbing wanted suspects before they committed more crimes. Most of the suspects are due to appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s and Gelvandale Courts today.