Stock theft cases decline

Midlands Correspondent
A total of 20 376 people were arrested on stock theft related cases while 1 328 were convicted countrywide last year, the national coordinator for Anti-Stock Theft, Senior Assistant Commissioner Bernard Dumbura, has said. Addressing members of the community during a police national crime awareness campaign in Gokwe on Thursday, Snr Asst Comm Dumbura said 1 122 butcheries, 800 food outlets and eight abattoirs were also closed during the same year for contravening the public health regulations and selling meat suspected to have been stolen.

He said the developments also culminated in a marginal decrease in the number of stock theft incidences between 20011 and 2012.

“Through sheer commitment to duty by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) coupled with the unwavering support received from the community, the crime of stock theft has decreased.

“This is as a result of a crack down on stock thieves which saw a total of 1 328 people being convicted for stock theft in the year 2012 while 20 376 suspects were arrested for stock theft related offences last year, 800 food outlets, 1 122 butcheries and eight abattoirs were closed for contravening the Public Health Regulations,” he said.

Snr Asst Comm Dumbura said police received 5 509 reports of stock theft in 2012 compared to 6 269.

He said police also managed to recover more stolen cattle in 2012 than those which were recovered in 2011.

“The number of cases reported in 2012 decreased to 5 509 from 6 269 in 2011 translating to 12 percent decrease. The number of stolen cattle in the year 2012 also decreased from 13 531 in 2011 to 11 289 in 2012 translating to 17 percent decrease,” he said.

Snr Asst Comm Dumbura urged communities to embrace the police coordinated cattle branding programme. He said cattle branding will help the police identify the owner of the beast when stock theft cases were reported.

“At times we fail to trace or recover stolen cattle because communities are reluctant to embrace the cattle branding programme. This programme is, however, helpful in the sense that it helps the police to quickly recover stolen cattle with no hassles,” he said..