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Midlands Correspondent
POLICE have arrested more than 600 people during Operation Chakapedza Mbudzi as part of a blitz to stamp out stock theft.
Police National Anti-Stock Theft co-ordinator, Senior Assistant Commissioner Bernard Dumbura, said they targeted butcheries, abattoirs and food outlets last month and arrested 31 stock thieves and 591 others for related offences.
Snr Asst Comm Dumbura said they also closed 25 butcheries and eight food, and recovered 52 goats, eight cattle and four sheep.
“We intensified the clampdown on food outlets, abattoirs and butcheries under operation Chakapedza Mbudzi from 21 to 26 December 2015 after we received reports of rampant cases of goat theft in Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Mashonaland East.
‘‘At least 100 goats were being reported stolen a week,” he said.
Snr Asst Comm Dumbura said restaurants and butcheries were the primary targets because they provided a ready market for stock thieves.
He said stock thieves often capitalised on the festive season to sell meat to urbanites for the Christmas and New Year festivities.
“In some cases, businesspeople are directly involved in stock theft and provide resources such as vehicles and cash,” the senior cop said.
Online Reporter