Crime Statistics Agency: Motor vehicle theft on farms at decade high

Utes and cars are being stolen from Victorian farms in record numbers, new statistics confirm. But farmers say the numbers aren’t the full picture.

Theft of cars and utes from farms is at a decade-high across regional Victoria, amid concerns cases of livestock theft are still being under-reported.

More than 450 motor vehicles were stolen from farms in the 12 months to March 2025, according to the latest figures released by the Crime Statistics Agency.

In dollar terms, the data shows equipment theft nearly doubled from $1.49m in 2023-24 to $2.82m in the most recent reporting period.

The 458-vehicle figure for the 2024-25 period also overtook the previous 429 vehicle record notched up in 2019-20.

Livestock theft figures remained steady with 131 cases of livestock theft, with a trend instead towards the theft of on-farm items such as fuel, trailers and other agricultural equipment.

Victorian Farmers Federation livestock group president Scott Young said there was significant under-reporting of livestock theft, with many landholders feeling there would be no restitution.

“I know some farmers don’t think it’s worth the hassle but the more reporting that happens, the more the police can determine patterns (of criminal behaviour),” he said.

“There seems to be a shift in the stats from livestock to farm equipment, but that’s based only on the numbers we have available.

“I’d say stock theft is higher, and strong prices play a role, but then again, it’s expensive to feed the livestock once you’ve got them.”

VFF livestock president Scott Young. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Several high profile livestock theft incidents have been notched up since the compliation of the crime statistics, including the theft of more than 1100 unmulesed sheep stolen from Steven Wheeler’s Lexton farm, near Ballarat.

Sheep have been a favoured target in the past financial year with 300 Merino cross White Suffolk lambs stolen from a Dundonell property, in southwest Victoria.

Mr Young urged farmers to invest in new technology that monitors on-farm activity, like cameras and sensors.

“There’s plenty of ways to keep tabs on the farm and having that equipment can be a good deterrent,” he said.

“But another, simple way to reduce theft is not post about your holiday on social media — holidays are often when thieves strike, so wait until you get home to talk about your holiday.”

VFF president Brett Hosking said the statistics confirmed anecdotal evidence from farmers of having power tools and other equipment stolen from sheds.

“We’ve heard from a number of farmers about theft being more brazen - it’s not just stealing items in a paddock, the thieves are going into sheds and houses,” Mr Hosking said.

“Livestock theft stats have remained stable but we believe that’s a case of under-reporting, whereas there’s a higher reporting rate when a vehicle is stolen.”

Australian Dairy Farmers president Ben Bennett said on-farm crime had been a factor throughout the southwest Victorian drought.

“If you’re crooked enough to steal a quad bike or a ute, you don’t care if it’s a drought or not,” the Camperdown region farmer said.

“You do hear of reports of a quad bike being stolen here and there. It’s a low act, but you’ve got to keep on guard.”