Landholder speaks out about having 350 sheep stolen

A Mundowy Lane landholder who had 350 sheep stolen wants to see the perpetrators brought to justice. See the developments here.

The theft of more than 350 sheep from a Mundowy Lane property near Wagga Wagga in southern NSW has raised more than a few suspicions with landholder Paul Funnell.

Mr Funnell estimates the theft, which occurred five weeks ago, has cost him more than $150,000, plus lost earnings potential of $400,000 to $500,000 over the next four years.

He confirmed Rural Crime Investigators from NSW Police and forensics had visited his property twice after the sheep were stolen and two of his alpacas were shot.

“You could clearly see the wheel tracks of a semi-trailer near the sheep yards,” he said.

“Somebody knows something,” he said.

Picture of Dorpers for illustration purposes only. Paul Funnell has reported the theft of 350 Dorpers from his Mundowy Lane property.

Mr Funnell has called out to meat buyers, livestock agents, livestock carriers and other farmers and landholders to be on the lookout for his Dorper ewes and lambs.

In addition to the 350 ewes, there were 12 rams taken.

Mr Funnell said a semi couldn’t come in, load 350 sheep and leave without anyone knowing or seeing anything.

“To do what these people have done means they were not scared of violence,” he said.

“They need to be held to account.”

Mr Funnell said he had suspicions about the perpetrators and reported all the information to the police.

“The fact is, somebody knows something,” he said.

“Somebody has seen something.”

He said he was grateful for the work of the police.

A landholder from Collingullie near Wagga Wagga is holding out hope his stolen sheep will be found.

Mr Funnell said the Dorper ewes about to start lambing were an essential part of his future income.

“This is difficult to withstand financially, and we can’t recover the genetics.”

He said some ewes were White Dorpers, and others had distinct black heads and necks.

Because the ewes were mixed age and on the point of lambing, he said it would be difficult to transport them directly to the saleyards or abattoirs.

He said it was likely the sheep were taken somewhere and had their National Livestock Identification Scheme tags removed.

The tags had the number: NH553101.

Police from the Rural Crime Prevention Team in NSW say the alleged theft occurred between

Monday, March 20 and Sunday, March 25.

The property is located on Mundowy Lane at Collingullie, and this road was closed recently due to flooding.

Rural Crime Prevention Team Investigators from Cootamundra are seeking assistance from the public. Police urge anyone with information to call Cootamundra police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.