Undertaker Arrested For Coffin Theft

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PRETORIA
Undertaker arrested for coffin theft

A 32-year-old woman was arrested at her undertaker's premises on Friday afternoon in Hebron near Ga-Rankuwa in the North West in connection with the theft of a coffin from a cemetery.

Pretoria police spokesperson Captain Piletji Sebola said detectives from Pretoria's organised crime unit obtained a search warrant from the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrates Court on Friday morning and recovered the coffin from the undertaker's premises.

"The coffin was still covered with soil. It is alleged that two employees, a man and a woman, received instructions to get the specified coffin of a body buried at the Ga-Rankuwa cemetery in July this year."

Sebola said the two eventually succeeded in retrieving the coffin after two earlier attempts failed.

"The assignment was given to the two a week after the burial."

He said a third person, who was recruited by the two alleged "coffin diggers" was fired because of his height.

"A fourth person who was taller was then hired to assist with fulfilling the task."

Sebola said once the coffin was retrieved, the body was buried and covered with soil. The theft was apparently conducted late at night.

The motive for the theft is unclear. Investigations are continuing.

Sebola said forensic tests of the coffin would form part of the investigation.

He said the health department would be informed of the incident for purposes of exhuming the body and that the bereaved family would also be contacted.