The Ermelo Stock Theft Unit (ESTU) does all in their power to curb stock theft, and last week they even commandeered a helicopter from Nelspruit SAPS Air Support to track down stolen cattle. According to Warrant Officer Chris Hartley of the ESTU, 35 cattle were chased from a grazing field at the farm Tweefontein on the road to Amersfoort on 26 June. The unit started their search, but after a while knew that they had to expand it and they commandeered the chopper from Nelspruit. The unit searched from 27 June and, after many arduous hours in the air, all the cattle were found between the Morgenzon and Zoo-als-hy-lykt gravels roads. No-one was arrested and the livestock, worth approximately R178 000, was returned to the rightful owner who profusely thanked and applauded the efforts of the ESTU. He was also impressed that the unit was able to organise the helicopter so quickly. In another STU case, a suspect was held for interrogation after seven cattle with their ear tags missing were found at the Ermelo Livestock Auction on Thursday, 30 June. The cattle, worth R5 000 each, are thought to be stolen at Waterval-Boven and the Middelburg STU is investigating the case. On the same day at the auction W/O Hartley kept another suspect for interrogation after two sheep, with the tattoos on their right ears not clearly visible, were discovered at the auction. The owners are sought. The sheep have ‘half moon’ markings on both the tips and the bottoms of their right ears. If these are your animals, phone W/O Hartley at 017 819 5805 to claim them. LM