Alleged livestock theft thwarted in Kirkuk

KIRKUK — Early Sunday, police in the Panja Ali neighborhood of Kirkuk arrested five individuals suspected of livestock theft.

Hassan Ali, a local resident, alerted authorities. “We saw some individuals trying to steal livestock near our house and immediately called the police, who quickly apprehended them after significant effort,” he told 964.

A source from the Uruba police station reported to 964 that the suspects included four individuals carrying Syrian identification and one local resident, with a Kia vehicle registered in Diyala.

“The livestock owner reported the theft, prompting a police response. Though the suspects initially fled, they were captured near the Yousif discount market in the Panja Ali market,” the source added.

Recent months have seen a spate of livestock thefts in the Erbil Plains area. In January, a shepherd from Murtka village in the Qushtapa sub-district reported 24 sheep stolen. Early in February, a livestock owner from Qultepe village lost 30 sheep, followed by the theft of 32 sheep from another owner later that month.