Stolen goats recovered, four suspects arrested
NEBO – Thirty seven stolen goats have been recovered, two vehicles as well as a firearm confiscated and four suspects aged between 21 and 38 arrested in various parts of Sekhukhune district during police joint operations that started from Friday, 06 January to Saturday, 07 January 2023 morning.
According to police, the intelligence driven operation was conducted in the Nebo area in the early hours of that Friday by the detectives, members of the Vispol, stock theft and designated police for firearms, liquor and second hand goods units following a tip off on the problem of theft of livestock.
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, Limpopo Provincial Police Spokesperson, said that police acted on information received and conducted a roadblock as well as stop and search operations at Glen Cowie and managed to arrest two male suspects aged 33 and 38 respectively and in the process, recovered 21 goats and also confiscated a vehicle, a Ford Ranger, used to transport the goats.
Ledwaba indicated that the same team followed up on information and managed to arrest one suspect in Burgersfort who was awaiting payment and subsequently, the team proceeded to Mecklenburg policing area where they further arrested the fourth suspect from the village where the goats were stolen.
“The same day, two more goats were confiscated in Monsterlus. On Saturday, 07 January 2023 at about 04:00 during stop and search, police chased a bakkie the driver of which alighted and fled on foot, abandoning it with 14 goats inside. The total number of suspects arrested are four, two Ford Ranger bakkies and 37 goats confiscated and recovered,” added Ledwaba.
The four suspects, two in Nebo and two in Mecklenburg are expected to appear before the two magistrate’s courts soon facing charges of possession of suspected stolen livestock and other related charges.