How to Catch a Stock Thief

Every animal is unique, and stock handling can leave distinct marks on individual animals. These two facts can be used by law enforcement officers to prosecute stock thieves effectively. Gerhard Uys spoke to expert witness Mort Mortassagne.

Stock theft in South Africa currently costs the livestock industry approximately R500 million a year. Yet well informed prosecutors, policemen and farmers can use simple logic to secure criminal convictions and help reduce this theft, according to Mort Mortassagne, cattle farmer, former policeman and expert witness in over 900 stock theft cases.

“Every animal is unique and will have [some] permanent marks from being handled over the years. These can all be used for identification purposes to link stolen livestock to their owners’ herds,” says Mort.

Taking these factors into account and using research, DNA and circumstantial evidence, prosecutors can reconstruct a case successfully and secure a conviction. To achieve this, however, they need some understanding of stock handling methods, as well as the correct usage of livestock farming terminology, he explains.

According to Mort, many thieves do their best to change the appearance of livestock shortly after it has been stolen. Typically, they dehorn, remove ear tags, or smudge brand marks with a hot spade or other object. The prosecutor therefore has to link evidence to an animal whose appearance may have been changed, or to a farm that may be kilometres away from where animals or parts of animals have been found. Being able to match wool, ear notches, branding, dehorning methods, castration and age to stolen livestock is crucial.

LANGUAGE BARRIER

Often, the first obstacle encountered when trying to secure a conviction in a stock theft case is the language barrier.