Intelligence driven operations and diligent detective work by members of various Stock Theft Units within the province were boosted with arrests.
Swartkops SAPS arrested two suspects aged 29 and 47 and charged them for stock theft. This arrest follows an arrest that was effected on the 26 November 2017 where another three accused were arrested and charged for armed robbery and stock theft following a robbery and theft of 40 sheep in a stock farm.
The five suspects have briefly appeared in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court today facing their charges.
Police are appealing to all stock owners to exercise caution and high alert during this time as stock thieves are on the lookout for unattended stock to steal and sell for a quick buck. Police are also warning the members of the public to refrain from buying meat and stock from people who do not own stock or have positive proof that they are the rightful owners of the goods for sale.
Police will be having no option but to arrest the seller and the buyer of stolen stock.
EC Provincial Commissioner-Lt Gen Ntshinga congratulated the members for the successes and vouched that his component and all the units will do their utmost work, working hand in hand with community members and stock owners to fight the scourge of stock theft that tends to be a regular occurrence during the festive season and beyond.
“Our deployment must focus on key festive season pillars that instruct members to investigate all the cases related to wildlife, endangered species, marine species and combatting stock theft. This breakthrough and successes proves that Stock Theft Units are on the right track,” she added.
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