Rhino horns disappear from police custody

2013-03-06 11:05

(File: AFP)

Johannesburg - A set of rhino horns has disappeared from the Assen police station outside Brits, Beeld reported on Wednesday.

The horns, one of two sets held at the police station since November, were confiscated after rhino poachers dehorned eight rhino at the Klipkopspruit private reserve near Sun City, in North West.

Hawks spokesperson Captain Paul Ramaloko said on Tuesday a theft docket had been opened.

"It is not clear how the horns disappeared, because there were no burglaries at the station."

The only people with access to the storeroom were police officers who had the key, he said.

Klipkopspruit's owner Miles Lappeman told Beeld he learned of the disappearance of the horns on Friday.

According to the newspaper, he received a letter from the department of environmental affairs two weeks ago asking him to remove the horns from the police station and asking for the address where they would be stored.

Lappeman said he had not been prepared to fetch the horns, as by supplying his address he would render himself and his family a crime target.

- SAPA