Six arrested after Northern Cape police intercept vehicle carrying suspected stolen sheep
Suspected stolen sheep were recovered from a vehicle stopped by police near Garies.
Image: Supplied / SAPS
A ROUTINE evening patrol turned into a swift arrest operation when police in Garies stopped a vehicle suspected of ferrying stolen livestock, leading to the arrest of six people on charges of stock theft.
Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Garies were conducting vehicle patrols on December 19 when they received information about a vehicle allegedly transporting stolen sheep. Acting quickly, officers identified a vehicle matching the description and brought it to a stop at about 8.20pm.
A search of the vehicle revealed five sheep loaded at the back, with an estimated value of R10,000. None of the occupants were able to provide a satisfactory explanation for the ownership or origin of the animals.
All six suspects – aged between 18 and 47 – were arrested at the scene, and the vehicle used in the commission of an alleged crime was confiscated. The arrests form part of ongoing efforts to combat stock theft, a crime that continues to impact farming communities across the Namakwa District.
Police management in the district praised the officers involved for their prompt and decisive action, while also acknowledging the role of community members whose information helped lead to the arrests.
Northern Cape police spokesperson Warrant Officer Molefi Shemane confirmed the arrests and reiterated SAPS’s commitment to working closely with communities to curb rural crime.