Leaders call for increased sheep theft penalties

Tired of thefts “happening all the time”, farming leaders have called for stricter penalties after 700 ewes and lambs were stolen from a western Victorian farm.

Livestock leaders have called for tougher penalties for sheep duffing after 700 ewes and lambs were stolen from a farm in western Victoria.

Police believe the 197 Merino ewes with purple ear tags and 493 white Suffolk Merino Cross lambs with red ear tags, in full wool and worth around $140,000, may have been transported interstate.

The theft occurred from a property on Gowar-Logan Road, Logan, between October 21, 2022 and February 1, 2023, and is understood to be the largest of its kind in Victoria in recent history.

Victorian Farmers Federation livestock president Scott Young said the theft of small numbers of sheep from Victorian farms was “happening all the time” but going largely unreported by victims.

The VFF wants harsher penalties for livestock theft. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Mr Young called for the introduction of stronger penalties for livestock theft and the rebirthing of animals, which can include rebranding and cutting out and replacing electronic tags.

“It is happening all the time but not in big numbers, like in this instance. There are really high numbers of unreported theft of 10 to 20 sheep going missing, being put in trailers and horse floats,” he said.

Mr Young said some producers were reluctant to report smaller thefts, fearing they would not be taken seriously by authorities.

“We need everyone to come forward so we can build a picture and a database of exactly what is happening that might help police better act on the crimes,” he said.

“It is really hard for farmers because some stock are out grazing for 99 per cent of the year – they are not pets and we don’t have to check on them all the time. They have water, feed and shelter and are out relaxing.”

He also called for better information-sharing paths between police and livestock agents to more effectively monitor livestock markets.

WoolProducers Australia president Steve Harrison said it was “extremely disappointing that this continues to happen”.

“As soon as someone gets caught we have to go to town with the penalties,” he said.

“For the stress of the livestock, the owners and everyone else concerned, the penalties are never high enough.”

Of the 212 livestock thefts recorded across Victoria last year there was one arrest; 183 incidents remain unsolved.

Police believe significant effort would have gone into the Logan theft, with offenders likely using sheep dogs, portable fencing and four-decker trucks for transport.

Leading Senior Constable Dan O’Bree said the theft was noticed when the sheep were gathered to be shorn and the mob of 1800 had been reduced to 1100.

“We have had reports that there was a couple of four-decker trucks in the area around December at stray hours,” he said.

“We think that the sheep would have to be walked off the property, maybe into some bushland for a bit of cover, (possibly to) a yard set up or … some old yards nearby.”