Gino and Mark Stocco: Fugitives’ trail of fear and mayhem

Armed with a high-powered rifle, Gino and Mark Stocco have been described as “ghosts” who travel by night, have no bank accounts or telephones and go by a string of assumed identities to avoid detection.

Gino Stocco and Mark Stocco, father and son on Australia's most wanted list, in police shootout in NSW Riverina

THEY are the fugitive ghosts who strike struggling farmers in the dead of night — usually when the moon is full — leaving behind a trail of destruction along the ­nation’s east coast.

Father-son crime wave Gino and Mark Stocco came within 100m of capture last Friday after a shootout with police near Wagga Wagga.

But their victims say the violent duo, who have been on the run from NSW and Queensland police since 2007, are usually more covert.

Armed with a high-powered rifle, survivalists Gino, 57, and Mark, 35, have been described as “ghosts” who travel by night, have no bank accounts, telephones or social media presence and go by a string of assumed identities to avoid detection.

They trawl through rural newspaper The Land and websites such as Gumtree seeking out cash-in-hand jobs and caretaker accommodation across the country.

But landowners who welcomed the drifters on to their properties have had tools, firearms and cars stolen, tyres drilled and slashed, and sheds burnt to the ground.

Some farmers told The Daily Telegraph they now sleep with loaded guns under their bed, fearing the men’s reprisal attacks.

Canowindra farmers Guy and Donna Tidswell said they were left with a $180,000 damage bill after two such incidents on their property in the state’s central west.

Farm sheds and vehicles torched on the Tidswell’s Canowindra property after ‘caretakers’ Gino and Mark Stocco were asked to leave.

Northern NSW farmer Ian Durkin had 80 tyres drilled and slashed and property stolen in two incidents involving Gino and Mark Stocco.

Another truck with its tires slashed by the Stocco men. Picture: Ian Durkin

The Stoccos had worked on the farm as caretakers for the previous owners before being told to leave. Their alleged revenge included setting on fire a hay shed, machinery shed and tractors, and drilling into 72 tyres.

NSW’S MOST DRAMATIC MANHUNTS

NSW Police, including heavily armed personnel, set up a command centre at Livingstone Gully, approximately 40km south east of Wagga Wagga. Picture: Michael Frogley

Mrs Tidswell, whose son Luke confronted the men and had a car driven at him, said they have since increased security at the property.

Northern NSW cattle farmer Ian Durkin said he was left with an $80,000 damage bill after a run-in with the father and son. After he asked them to move on, the men returned twice to drill 80 tyres and cut his boundary fences.

He said they “would smell a cop from a mile away” and that he feared officers pursuing them could be in danger.

“There is definitely a fear a copper might pull them over in a country town and they will just shoot him,” he said.

Shading shows area of Riverina district where police are concentrating their search.

The Daily Telegraph heard other reports the father and son used an axe and sledgehammer to damage a property before flooding it.

Despite their attempts to stay off the grid, the men are now very much on the police radar following last week’s gunfight, with their capture given top priority.

Damage done to a property in Canowindra.

While they dumped their stolen Nissan Navara and escaped into bushland on Friday, Wagga police crime manager Detective-Inspector Darren Cloake said officers were still tracking the duo and believed they were now travelling in a stolen white 2013 Toyota Landcruiser.

“Our efforts are concentrated on locating that vehicle,” Insp Cloake said.

Polair 3 participates in the search for Gino and Mark Stocco near Wagga Wagga. Picture: Michael Frogley