News / Local
Goat thief caught in the act
08 Aug 2013 at 06:44hrs | Views
A stock thief is reportedly battling for life at Mpilo Central Hospital after he was beaten by villagers at Woolendale area, a few kilometres outside Bulawayo along Plumtree Road, police confirmed. The man, whose name could not be established yesterday, was allegedly beaten up when the villagers set a trap on him at night.
It is alleged that he was in the habit of stealing goats from villagers which he would allegedly slaughter in the bush at night and take the meat to his house in Makokoba.
"I can confirm that somebody was arrested when he was found skinning a goat at night recently. He was beaten up by the owners of the goat and is recovering in hospital under police guard," said police spokesperson for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo yesterday.
Villagers said the man had terrorised them by breaking into their premises at night and stealing goats.
"I have a plot in Woolendale and we have been having a problem of goats disappearing until we discovered that somebody was stealing and slaughtering them in the bush," said Mrs Memory Moyo from the area.
She said the thief had allegedly stolen her two goats on two different nights while some of her neighbours lost about four.
"My goat went missing and that was the second time such a thing had happened. We reported the matter at Emganwini Police Post and on Tuesday last week villagers mobilised each other and lay an ambush at night and caught the suspect.
"When he was caught, he fought back and some of the villagers fled until one of them struck him with an axe. That is when others joined in and hit him on the fingers and toes. They continued ramming him on the rail until he became unconscious and he is admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital," said Mrs Moyo.
She said they suspected the thief was running a backyard butchery.
"From what we gathered, the thief was bragging that he does not eat vegetables at his house in Makokoba. Our wish is that justice should be done because we have lost our animals," said Mrs Moyo.
It is alleged that he was in the habit of stealing goats from villagers which he would allegedly slaughter in the bush at night and take the meat to his house in Makokoba.
"I can confirm that somebody was arrested when he was found skinning a goat at night recently. He was beaten up by the owners of the goat and is recovering in hospital under police guard," said police spokesperson for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo yesterday.
Villagers said the man had terrorised them by breaking into their premises at night and stealing goats.
"I have a plot in Woolendale and we have been having a problem of goats disappearing until we discovered that somebody was stealing and slaughtering them in the bush," said Mrs Memory Moyo from the area.
She said the thief had allegedly stolen her two goats on two different nights while some of her neighbours lost about four.
"My goat went missing and that was the second time such a thing had happened. We reported the matter at Emganwini Police Post and on Tuesday last week villagers mobilised each other and lay an ambush at night and caught the suspect.
"When he was caught, he fought back and some of the villagers fled until one of them struck him with an axe. That is when others joined in and hit him on the fingers and toes. They continued ramming him on the rail until he became unconscious and he is admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital," said Mrs Moyo.
She said they suspected the thief was running a backyard butchery.
"From what we gathered, the thief was bragging that he does not eat vegetables at his house in Makokoba. Our wish is that justice should be done because we have lost our animals," said Mrs Moyo.
Source - chronicle
