MBOMBELA – It appears that timber theft is on the increase once again at the start of the new year. A Bell logger hidden in the bushes were discovered next to the Bambie Road near the N4 this morning.
The logger, which is the property of Forestry Plant and Equipment Sales, was stolen at the Elvecia plantation on Wednesday, but was recovered within half an hour by the Phoenix K9 Unit after they had been informed about the theft this morning by the Lowveld Timber Theft Forum (LTTF).
“We found the logger hidden in the bushes where it had already been stripped of some of its parts,” said Mr Jurie Grobler, Lowveld contract manager at Phoenix K9.
According to Grobler, Col Johan Nkosi of the Phoenix K9 Unit made the discovery.
Timber theft has been one the biggest problems in Lowveld, especially over the past two years, with a large number of robberies and thefts being reported resulting in an increase in security concerns.
