SUCCESS PROJECT: LIVESTOCK THIEVES ARRESTED
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Theft and poaching remain persistent and growing threats to farms across South Africa, particularly in rural and remote areas. Farmers face mounting losses owing to illegal hunting of livestock and wildlife, theft of machinery, tools, crops, and organised criminal activities targeting agricultural infrastructure. These crimes have severe economic consequences and compromise food security. They endanger livelihoods and instil fear in farming communities.
Despite efforts by law enforcement and private security stakeholders, limited rural policing capacity,
vast landscapes, and delayed response times enable criminal syndicates to operate with impunity.
As a result, farmers increasingly turn to collaborative community policing, private investigations,
and surveillance technology to protect their land, assets, and families.
SSS received a case involving three farmers in the Doornlaagte area near Koster.
Incidents of theft and poaching in the area have increased in the past four months. The only evidence found was the tracks of the suspects moving in and out of the farms.
The SSS specialist investigators initiated an investigation and obtained information from several informants.
Rainbow Chickens, a business in the area, has also been affected by housebreaking, likely involving the same suspects.
On 9 July 2025, following an intensive investigation, SSS identified the suspects at one of the farms where they were residing.
Together with Koster SAPS and the Doornlaagte community, the SSS specialist investigators entered the area during the afternoon of 10 July 2025 and conducted surveillance and planning operations.
The suspects’ residence was positively identified.
In collaboration with Koster SAPS, SSS carried out an operation at 03:00 on the morning of 11 July 2025, during which two suspects were arrested.
A case (MAS 30/06/2025) had already been opened in relation to theft, and the suspects are now being held in connection with this case, as well as the housebreaking at Rainbow Chickens.
Charges of poaching will be filed with SAPS by the relevant parties.
OPPORTUNISTIC CRIME IN RURAL FARMING AREAS:
The rise in theft and poaching in the Doornlaagte/Koster area reflects a classic example of opportunistic crime, in which perpetrators take advantage of gaps in rural security, lack of surveillance infrastructure, and slow law enforcement response times.
In this case, suspects were reportedly moving in and out of various farms without being immediately detected. They left only footprints and basic physical traces as evidence.
Opportunistic criminals typically do not operate with high-level planning, unlike organised syndicates.
Instead, they exploit easy targets and act when they perceive low risk and high reward, for example:
Gaining access to farms without electric fencing or CCTV,
Striking at night or when owners are away,
Targeting areas where no guard patrols or community watches exist,
Stealing items that are easy to conceal or resell, such as chickens, fuel, fencing, tools, and small livestock.
In this case, the suspects reportedly resided on or near one of the affected farms, which provided them with proximity and insider knowledge, common features of opportunistic rural crimes.
This allowed them to move freely, study patterns of activity, and commit repeated thefts or poaching with minimal risk of detection.
Furthermore, the involvement in housebreaking at Rainbow Chickens and multiple reported thefts over four months suggests repeat opportunistic offences, in which a small group continually exploits weak points in security across numerous targets.
The frequency and boldness of their crimes quickly escalated.
Importantly, although the initial pattern may seem low-level or unorganised, opportunistic crime often evolves into more coordinated criminal behaviour once perpetrators realise their behaviour is met with limited resistance.
SSS SPECIALIST INVESTIGATOR TASK TEAM:
MR. JACQUES VISSER
Contact number: +27 67 161 2570
Email address: jacquesv@mikebolhuis.co.za
MR. RUAN VISSER
Contact number: +27 67 401 1075
Email address: ruan@mikebolhuis.co.za
MR. VICTOR MABENA
Contact number: +27 66 172 1332
Email address: victorm@mikebolhuis.co.za
MR. SIDWELL NKABINDE
Contact number: +27 62 039 0988
Email address: sidwelln@mikebolhuis.co.za
We extend our sincere appreciation to the Koster SAPS and the Doornlaagte farming community for their support,
swift cooperation, and active involvement throughout this investigation.
Their commitment to rural safety, tireless vigilance, and willingness to work hand-in-hand with private investigators played a crucial role in the successful identification and arrest of the suspects. This case is a clear example of how collaboration between law enforcement and local communities can yield meaningful results in the fight against rural crime.
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