Textbook two-day manhunt with close cooperation between some 60 farmers and cops from Hoopdal, Thabazimbi and Polokwane – aided by skilled field-trackers and 3 helicopters… with two local supermarkets providing sustenance: rural crime-fighting at its best!
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THABAZIMBI. September 16 2010 - In a textbook-demonstration of close cooperation between three police stations and some 60 farmers, and highly-skilled field-trackers from the SAPS, one cop helicopter and two private helicopters, three of four armed farm-attackers were tracked down in thick bush and arrested within a day of breaking through a window of commercial farmer Louis Mayer’s farmstead Rooiboschbult near Sentrum. They looted his house, forced him at gunpoint to open his vault to steal cash and weapons – and fired shots at his daughter’s friend. Amazingly, no-one was injured. The farmer’s stolen bakkie was found abandoned with stolen housegoods when the attackers fled into the bush. Only one armed man is still at large: he is known to the SAPS, has a crime record and was already being sought for other violent crimes… Initially it was believed that five attackers had been involved: however from the field-tracking it became clear that four suspects had fled from the stolen farm-bakkie into the bush. Picture: Some 60 farmers and cops from 3 police stations, together with 3 helicopters, mounted a massive search after an armed attack on Louis Mayer’s farm, Rooiboschbult, Sentrum, Thabazimbi district. Shots were exchanged during the attack, but no-one was injured. The manhunt was successful, three of the armed thugs were arrested, and the farmer’s doublecab bakkie, loaded with stolen goods, was found abandoned in the bush. source: Jan Viljoen, Thabazimbi. JCViljoen@worldonline.co.za Telephone 083 325 6057
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As reported to Adriana Stuijt by Jan Viljoen, Thabazimbi, telephone 083-325-6057.
On Thursday, September 16th, 2010 approximately 01:30 commercial farmer Louis Mayer and a family friend were attacked and held captive by between 4 to 5 black men on the farm Rooiboschbult, Sentrum, Thabazimbi District. In a dramatic research drama mounted by some 60 members of three local farming communities and the Sentrum Farmers Association, three helicopters, and SA Police members from the Hoopdal, Thabazimbi and Polokwane stations, three attackers were arrested. It is unknown at this stage whether four or five men had been involved but the search for the remaining attacker(s) continues. There also was also an attempt to steal the double cab vehicle but it was abandoned with stolen goods in the bush near the farm when the attackers fled on foot. SAP members and the local farming community were on the scene within minutes of the emergency call.
•One of the attackers who still evades arrest is a man with a known criminal record, who is still being sought for a number of other criminal offences, said the SAPS.
•The Sentrum Farmers Association area is regarded as a safe area where theft is limited to items of lesser value. Previous to this incident, the last attack in this area took place in December 2008. The Centrum Farmers’ Association is well-organised on a network of radios.
The attack took place at about 01:30 on the morning of 16 September 2010, when four armed black men gained access to the Mayer homestead house by breaking and entering the house through a window. They removed stolen goods from the houses, loading them on a double cab vehicle they intended to steal. However, after the vehicle was loaded up they went to Mr Mayer, still asleep in his bedroom, woke him up, took his handgun and forced him to open his gun-vault, where they took some cash and firearms. Mr Mayer was then locked in a room. A second house on the farm where Mr Mayer’s daughter lived with a friend, was also broken into. The friend – who remains unnamed – grabbed a rifle and opened the door – and three shots were fired at him with a handgun which did not injure him. The friend started firing back at the attackers but did not injure any of them either.
An emergency call went out to the SAPS in Hoopdal who were asked for assistance. The Sentrum Farmers Association was also immediately notified of the attack in progress. After receiving the emergency call, the Hoopdal Police members and the farmers moved immediately to the Mayer farm. The Hoopdal police members were first on the scene and entered the farm. On their way to the house however, the police members met a vehicle which was travelling in an opposite direction. At this stage they were not aware if the vehicle belonging to Mr. Mayer had been stolen. However when the driver of the oncoming vehicle saw the police van, he left the road and went into the bush, where they stopped. The attackers then abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot into the bush. At this stage there was still no clarification whether there are 4 or 5 attackers involved.
Electrified game-fence:
The local farming community then began searching for the attackers in an organised pattern, greatly helped by skilled field-trackers. Shortly afterwards the first footprints of two of the suspects were found where they had walked along the electrified game fence. They then lost the footprints which went back into the bush. By day light, the pursue of the attackers was delayed because the footprints could not be found. In search of the attackers, the local farmers' trackers assisted by the trackers of the SAP Services and other members of SAP Services from Hoopdal, Polokwane and Thabazimbi was deployed. Air support were available continuously during day light hours by three helicopters, provided by the SAP Services, local farmers and businessmen .. The search was hampered because the area they searched was fairly covered with shrub and bush, which provided shelter as the helicopter approached the attackers. In the course of the first day, with the help of the air support, the first attacker was arrested.
•At the end of daylight, the trackers were a very short distance behind the fugitives. The follow-up action was then called off due to the approaching darkness. At the end of the day, it was clear that the attackers must have been four in total, two of them moving together and that the fourth one escaped. On the morning of 17 September 2010, one of the local farmers saw the fugitives walking and all the trackers moved to the area they have been seen. Shortly thereafter the fugitives were spotted and the pursue started afresh. Assisted by helicopters, the two fugitives were caught at about 13:45.
Another attacker - a former employee of Mr Mayer – is according to the SAPS a man with a criminal record who was already being sought for a number of violent criminal offences by the SAPS.To date, there were many attempts to take him in custody, without success.
Incredible support by Hoopdal, Thabazimbi and Polokwane police stations:
“The local farming community takes note of the incredible support that was provided by the Hoopdal, Thabazimbi and Polokwane SAP Services. It is again noted with gratitude the skills that are still vested within the police’s tracker unit. Without these skills, this massive search could not have been undertaken. The continuous support with helicopters also ensured the success which was achieved: one police helicopter and the helicopters belonging to Lourens du Plessis, Gert Ehlers, Peter Breegen, Marius de Beer, and Bernard de Beer. The free food and refreshments were supplied to the search-parties by Hannes Fourie of the Thabazimbi Spar and Jan Beyers of Superama Exel and was sincerely appreciated by all. A total of about 60 people were taking part in the search efforts – mostly area farmers. Their determination to hunt down and arrest the attacks was evident. It was once again clear that the community and SAP Services can only achieve success if they support each other. Again, the key to success requires cooperation between all parties and a mutual understanding for each other`s concerns”, writes Mr Viljoen.
http://censorbugbear-reports.blogspot.com/2010/09/thabazimbi-farm-attack-massive-manhunt.html
http://censorbugbearadriana.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!B6B44A5376348175!2669.entry?&_c02_vws=1
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