East London police say they have made a major breakthrough after a suspected member of a stocktheft syndicate was arrested in the early hours of the morning.
Captain Stephen Marais says two suspects in a Ford Telstar had stolen 6 sheep in McCleantown late last night and fled the scene .. after local farmers fired shots at them.
He says the farmers followed the suspects to Mpumelelo informal settlement in Beacon Bay and contacted the police.
Marais says police confiscated 3 dead and 3 live sheep which were found hidden in a shack. The vehicle was also confiscated.
He says a man in his 40's was arrested a short while later and will appear in court on Thursday.
Marais says a second suspect who is known to the police is expected to be arrested soon.
He says the farmer has lost 45 sheep over the past month due to stocktheft and police believe that a syndicate is operating in the area.
