Burgersfort police captures suspected farm thiefs

BURGERSFORT – Another farm break-in occurred on Sunday night at Wildebeeskraal according to Col Ronnie van Niekerk of the local SAPS.

According to a press release, the owner Mr Hendrik Leonard was not at home when the suspects broke the firearm safe in the bedroom and conveyed it with a wheelbarrow through the field where it was loaded into a vehicle.

When Leonard discovered on Monday that they had broken in, he informed the police. They searched the farm and surroundings, using a tracking dog, but did not find any significant leads.

Three firearms, ammunition, R40 000 and personal documents were inside the safe. “The Burgersfort Police under command of Lt Col Richard Madilonga activated its resources and followed up on leads which came to light. The vehicle which conveyed the safe from the crime scene was found on the Lydenburg Road and the driver arrested, being in possession of more than R10 000 in cash, presumably the stolen money,” said Van Niekerk.

In the follow-up investigation, the safe, which was grinded open, was recovered at a river near Mashishing where it was dumped from the bridge. Only some personal documents were found.

The police managed to trace and recover the two stolen shotguns, ammunition and a grinder from a house in Mashishing and arrested a second suspect. The suspects appeared in court on charges of housebreaking and theft. They also faced additional charges for the possession of presumed stolen property and possession of firearms without licence at Lydenburg Court on Thursday.

The investigation continues and it is anticipated that further arrests may take place soon.