The Area Two police are now investigating if a man who was reportedly caught stealing yams from a farm in Sherwood Forest, Portland, on Saturday was indeed the thief plaguing farmers in the community.

The man, 52-year-old Clive Moore died during the confrontation with a farmer who allegedly caught him on his farm.

A release from the Constabulary Communication Network(CCN) said about 3:30 p.m., the farmer visited his farm and caught Moore stealing yam.

The farmer confronted Moore and during the altercation Moore allegedly attacked him with a machete. A fight ensued and Moore was chopped with a machete.

He was taken to the Port Antonio Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The farmer, 45, later turned himself into the police and is in custody.

identity withheld

His identity is being withheld pending further investigations.

Subsequent checks with the police found that numerous reports were made over the last few months pertaining the actions of a so-called yam thief who farmers say had been plaguing them.

"For the past few months there has been quite a number of reports of yam stealing in the community," Inspector Jefferey Thomas of the Area Two police told THE STAR.

"Di thief did a gwaan wicked roun ya man. People cyaa sleep a nighttime and haffi a watch out especially fi dem yam," a resident and farmer , Mr Bsaid.

"Over di pas' four months or so a whole heap a yam get tief. People lose thousands a dollars," another resident, Mrs X added.

Interestingly, nobody has the slightest idea of the identity of this alleged yam thief.

"One would think this is the man but that cannot be determined just yet. Our investigations will be ongoing so we will see," Inspector Thomas told THE STAR.

Names changed upon request.