Weekly crime watch: Thieves make off with cattle, solar powered pump equipment

TSCRA Daily News Update, June 30, 2008

Thieves make off with cattle, solar powered pump equipment

Special Rangers Joe Rector, Jim Vanover and James Bond, working in Oklahoma, East and West Texas report cattle and equipment stolen from their districts.

In most of the cattle theft cases, the cattle were branded, which will aid in the recovery of those animals.

A rancher in Upton County is short a working water well due to thieves stealing a solar-powered submersible pump, the pipe, wiring and the solar panels to power it.

If you have information on these cases, or other thefts in the ranching community, please contact TSCRA's law enforcement division at 800/242-7820.

District: 6

Special ranger: Joe Rector

Date of theft: Nov. 2007 to June 2008

Location of theft: South of Rush Springs, Okla., near the Stephens County line

Method of break-in: Subject(s) entered pasture through an unlocked gate, loaded the cattle and left the area.

Property stolen: Sixty cross-bred cows weighing 1,000 to 1,100 pounds each, branded with a bar C bar (-C-) or a bar K bar (-K-) on the left hip. There was an unknown number of calves with the cows.

District: 13

Special ranger: Jim Vanover

Date of theft: Apr. 19, 2008

Location of theft: Upshur County

Method of break-in: Suspect(s) cut barbed wire fence.

Property stolen: Two black cows and one red cow. The cattle were branded VH on the left hip and weighed about 1,100 pounds.

District: 13

Special ranger: Jim Vanover

Date of theft: May 8, 2008

Location of theft: Upshur County

Method of break-in: Suspect(s) cut the padlock on the gate and then used owner's pen and chute to load the cattle.

Property stolen: Eight black and red Brangus cows. These cattle were not branded.

District: 17

Special ranger: James Bond

Date of theft: Between May 24 and June 14, 2008

Location of theft: Northeastern Upton County

Method of break-In: Suspects cut lock on gate.

Property stolen: Two solar-powered water pump systems, each consisting of one 2' x 4' solar panel; a ¾-horsepower submersible pump located down hole; approximately 400 feet of tubing; and all wiring.

District: 17

Special ranger: James Bond

Date of theft: Between June 6 and 12, 2008

Location of theft: Ward County

Method of break-in: Subjects entered unlocked holding trap where steers were waiting to be shipped.

Property stolen: Eleven head of Mexican steers, approximately 500 pounds each, branded with "M" and "26" on right hip (M over 26) and "LT" connected (T under L) on left hip. All steers had a red ear tag in left ear with "HUNT" printed on them.