22 January 2024
In two incidents, criminals who stole livestock and solar panels on farms in North West were arrested over the weekend. The suspects will appear in court today.
Farmers from Ventersdorp collaborated with the police last Friday to apprehend four men in two cars filled with solar panels that were suspected to be stolen.
According to a statement by Col. Adéle Myburgh, spokesperson for North West police, solar panels were allegedly stolen from a farm in the district around 8pm. Police connected a Toyota Yaris and an Opel sedan to the crime and the cars were traced on the R30 between Ventersdorp and Derby.
With the assistance of farmers, four suspects between the ages of 34 and 37 were arrested, and 12 solar panels were found in the vehicles. The four suspects will appear in Ventersdorp magistrate’s court today.
Cattle ‘thieves’ caught
In a separate incident, three alleged cattle thieves were arrested after police investigated a case where five Bonsmara cattle without brands were found at a cattle post near Nietverdiend in North West on January 13.
Members of the Lehurutshe livestock theft and endangered species unit found the cattle after a tip. They were taken to the local pound where tattoo marks were noticed in their ears. This led the police to their owner, who had reported the theft of 10 cattle earlier in the month on his farm in Zeerust.
Further investigation led to the arrest of three suspects aged between 27 and 41. They will appear in Zeerust magistrate’s court today on charges of cattle theft.
