HOLY-COW! Police dodge CATTLE thrown from South African taxi during police chase

Image credit: SAPS

Police chasing a South African taxi with stolen LIVESTOCK onboard dodged COWS thrown out of the vehicle as suspects tried to evade officers.

On Thursday 7 January South African police officers from the Pietermaritzburg K9 Unit were conducting operations in the Pietermaritzburg area when they received information about a Toyota Quantum taxi travelling in Karkloof with stolen livestock.

With the assistance of other law enforcement agencies, the taxi vehicle which was holding four stolen cattle was pursued.

During the chase, the suspects drove on a gravel road towards New Hanover. In an attempt to evade police, the suspects threw livestock out of the moving taxi. Their vehicle crashed near the farm hostels and the suspects fled the scene on foot.

Police impounded a taxi with false registration plates for further investigation.

Investigations on the scene revealed that the livestock were stolen in the Rietvlei area. A charge of animal cruelty will also be added. The police are still searching for the suspects.