Farm crime: Large percentage of livestock thefts remain unsolved

What do the latest Crime Statistics Agency figures tell us about on-farm crime in 2021? We delve into the figures.

More than $5.7 million worth of livestock and agricultural equipment was stolen from Victorian farms throughout 2021, in a year where farmers invested heavily in livestock and on-farm infrastructure.

But authorities say while rural crime figures are down compared to last year, under reporting was still a problem when solving crime.

Recent figures from the Crime Statistics Agency for the 12 months to September 2021 shows $5.793 million worth of items was stolen from farm locations across Victoria.

And while that figure is down on the $5.992 million recorded for the 12 months prior, some types of crime is up, with more thefts of machinery, fuel containers, and timber compared to 2020.

Fuel container thefts soared from a mere $530 in the 12 months to September 2020 to $3965 in 2021.

Theft of timber of building materials soared from $385,407 to $1.135 million in the 12 months to September 2021, while machinery thefts totalled $151,355, up on the $64,680 the year before.

While the number of livestock thefts are down, more than 200 cases remain unsolved. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Livestock thefts across the state were down slightly, from 280 in the 12 months to September 2020 to 245 in 2021.

However, of the 245 recorded offences, 208 case remain unsolved, with only one arrest made in 2021 pertaining to livestock theft offences.

Victorian Farmers Federation livestock group president Steve Harrison said everyone across agriculture, from the producers to the livestock agents, has a major role in preventing and solving on-farm crimes.

“The stock agents would have a handle on what stock people have. At the end of the day, the majority of stock are sold through agents,” Mr Harrison said.

More than $2.1 million worth of livestock was stolen across the state, including $1.66 million worth of sheep and $352,250 of cattle.

“The price of sheep, goats, and cattle, combined with the paddocks with no stock in them due to seasonal conditions, it does make it harder to spot the (stolen) stock in the paddock as well,” Mr Harrison said.

“I do know in my area, people are being more vigilant with locking their gates, and even doing the basic job of counting their stock. There’s a lot we can do to prevent or help or prevent in the solving of crimes.”

Livestock thefts continue to be a focus for police in the crackdown on on-farm crime. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Victorian police are in the midst of investigating more than $255,000 worth of Merino sheep thefts from four separate properties across Western Victoria.

The crimes are understood to have taken place in the past five weeks, with police investigating the possibility the crimes could be connected.

More than 1100 sheep aged six months or older have been reported stolen, including 339 sheep from a property in Cavendish, 450 sheep in Lake Bolac, 240 sheep from a Clunes property, and 100 sheep from a property in Coleraine.

Farm Crime Coordination Unit Paul Hargreaves said while a number of areas of regional Victoria has recorded a drop in crime, “the impact of any farm theft is still great on those affected”.

Despite the devastating impact on the farming community, the theft of livestock is still vastly under reported,” Inspector Hargreaves said.

“A single incident of livestock theft can range from one or two animals to many hundreds. We know that farmers do not always report these thefts, perhaps because they’re not certain the animals were actually stolen, or they don’t believe a police investigation will help relocate them.”

Inspector Hargreaves said he was urging farmers to report crimes as soon as they suspect them.

“The farming community including neighbours, stock agents and transporters all have a role to play in keeping an eye out for suspicious activity and reporting anything out of the ordinary to police,” Inspector Hargreaves said.

“If you notice something, even something as small as a vehicle you don’t recognise, we urge you to report it to your local police station immediately or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers.

“It could be the missing piece of the puzzle.” 

Originally published as Farm crime: Large percentage of livestock thefts remain unsolved