Johannesburg - Free State police are on the hunt for suspects who broke into a mortuary and stole embalming powder as well as exhumation liquid which contains 97% alcohol concentrate.
Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said the burglary occurred on April 28 at the Rest in Peace Funeral Parlour in Clocolan.
Police said the burglars allegedly broke down a roller door to gain entrance to the mortuary.
Once inside, it is alleged they broke open the steel cabinet that contained the embalming powders as well as the exhumation liquid. They also fled with the funeral parlour's First Aid kit.
Makhele explained that embalming powder is used to preserve the deceased body from smelling and to prevent possible infection to humans.
"It is mostly used when the body will be transported across the border and/or for long a journey between countries. Stolen powders are white in colour, while some are shaped like gold crystals. They can destroy the human bones and flesh instantly.
"Exhumation liquid is 97% alcohol and is also used to prevent smell and infections when the remains of the deceased are being dug up from the grave for further investigations," he said.
Makhele said the exhumation liquid was in two bottles weighting 2kg each and that the suspects took both.
It's not yet known what the suspects were intending to do with the exhumation liquid and embalming powder.
This burglary happened after several reports circulated that desperate people have resorted to drinking hand sanitisers to get drunk because trading of alcohol has been banned due to the current lockdown regulations. Hand sanitizers contain up to 70% of alcohol.
A case of business burglary is being investigated. No one has been arrested yet and anyone who has information about the suspects and the stolen powders can contact detective Clocolan police.