Staff Reporter
A SUSPECTED rustler was caught in the act, his heavy truck apprehended, and the livestock he had allegedly stolen was recovered, thanks to alert members of the farming community and the Namibian police.
Two other suspects managed to flee, but they are known to the police and can be arrested at any time.
Farmers and the police sprang into action immediately after the crime was committed. A strange Nissan truck (N10870OK) was spotted on the C31 road driving towards Hochfeld at around 01:00. That same truck was later spotted again on the C29 road near Vendetta at around 02:30.
The livestock theft occurred at Farm Omantumba in the Hochfeld area during the night of 30 to 31 August.
According to a police report, the suspects stole and loaded fourteen head of cattle. However, prompt information sharing between farmers and the police led to the suspects being pursued until Farm Boomlager near Omitara in the Omaheke Region, where a 45-year-old suspect was arrested while his two companions managed to flee.
All the stolen animals — worth a total of N$426,000 — were recovered, and a truck and a sedan were impounded.
Yet another case of livestock theft was reported to the police at Stampriet, where two suspects aged 20 and 29 were arrested, accused of having stolen and strangled two goats valued at N$3,000. The carcasses were recovered.
