Kriel SAPS have nabbed three suspects in connection with stock theft.
On Friday, March 9 police received a tip off about vehicles that were loading cattle at a nearby farm onto trailers. Police rushed to Farm Aangewys and found three vehicles: a black Nissan Hardbody with cattle already loaded, a white Toyota Hilux in the process of loading cattle and a Volkswagen Polo which was allegedly the escort vehicle.
Three suspects arrested for stock theft appeared at the Kriel Magistrate Court on Wednesday, March 14.
The Hardbody and Hilux had a white trailer. The cattle were found with new branding.
During an interview police had with the suspects, unsatisfactory answers were given by the accused. The men aged 30, 44 and 56 were then arrested.
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Shortly after the stock theft unit was summoned on scene. The unit contacted the farmer who had reported his cattle missing to come and identify his livestock.
When the farmer arrived he identified six black cattle and another farmer identified eight cattle.
These are the cattle that were stolen and found at Ga-Nala.
The cattle have been handed to the lawful owners. The owner of the kraal where the arrest was made was not there. It is suspected that he could have run away. The accused appeared at the Kriel Magistrate Court on Monday, March 12.
The 44 year-old suspect got bail of R5 000 while the remaining two suspects will remain behind bars as they have previous convictions.
The case was before court yet again on Wednesday, March 14 for a formal bail application.
