Police in conjunction with a private security company, nabbed five stock theft suspects who were caught transporting sheep that was stolen in Van Stadensrus.
On 4 July 2023, at about 05:30, Bloemfontein Highway Patrol members were on patrol on the N1 near Bloemfontein when they saw a suspicious Tata truck.
Officers tried to stop the vehicle however, the suspects sped off.
Parkweg Client Service Centre members, also on patrol, were called to assist and the vehicle was stopped on the Ferreira off-ramp.
Two suspects were arrested from the Tata and 30 sheep were found.
While members were busy with the arrest, they received another call for backup from Bloemfontein Stock Theft Unit members who were tailing a suspicious silver Toyota Hilux bakkie also on the N1.
The vehicle was intercepted and the driver collided with the roadside barriers while trying to evade arrest.
Three suspects were arrested from the Toyota bakkie and 15 sheep were recovered.
A total of five male suspects aged between 50 and the youngest, a 16-year-old minor, were arrested and 45 sheep worth an estimated R90 000 were recovered from the two vehicles.
Investigations revealed that the livestock was stolen from a farm in the Van Stadensrus area and the owner was made aware after a positive identification through brand markings.
The arrested suspects are set to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court soon for possession of suspected stolen livestock and stock theft.
