Suspects linked to goat theft arrested after they lied to cops

Goat theft

Cape Town – Three men were arrested in connection with the alleged goat theft in Diphagane in Limpopo in the early hours of Friday.

This was after two suspects went to Nebo police station in Sekhukhune District to report a case report that their motor vehicle was hijacked, when, in fact, it had been torched by angry community members after they were allegedly found stealing goats.

“The suspects managed to escape from the raging mob.  However, the driver went to fetch his girlfriend and convinced her to pretend to be the witness in the hijacking incident for insurance purposes.

“The driver of the “hijacked” Ford bakkie then went to the police station, joined by a female companion and reported to the police that he was with the woman when three armed men driving in a VW Polo hijacked his motor vehicle at GaPhaahla village,” police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said in a statement.

Mojapelo said that a case of carjacking was then opened but upon further questioning, it was established that the man made a false statement.

He said that following intensive investigation, the other suspect was arrested at his homestead in GaPhaahla and all the eleven stolen goats were recovered.

“The lawful owner was also successfully located,” said Mojapelo.

Following the incident, the Provincial Commissioner of police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe warned the public against reporting false cases and urged the community to report incidents of stock theft immediately to the police.

The three suspects aged between 24 and 34 were expected to appear before the Nebo Magistrate’s Court on Monday, February 13, 2023 facing charges of perjury and stock theft.

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Compiled by Matthew Petersen

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