Livestock theft: Victorian farmers lose at least $7.5m over 5 years

Livestock theft has almost doubled over the past five years in Victoria with farmers expected to have lost at least $7.5 million. Unsolved cases have risen more than 70 per cent.

Farm thefts: 239 burglary, break and enter and theft offences where livestock were stolen went unsolved in the 2018-19 financial year.

VICTORIAN farmers have lost more than $7.5 million to livestock theft over the past five years, while unsolved cases have risen more than 70 per cent.

Crime Statistics Agency data, analysed by The Weekly Times , showed in the 2018-19 financial year there were:

239 burglary, break and enter and theft offences where livestock were stolen went unsolved.

268 livestock recorded stolen – almost double the amount of livestock stolen five years ago – including 185 sheep, 51 cattle and 12 horses.

MORE than $1.9 million lost to livestock theft.

But the actual numbers would be much higher, according to Victorian Farmers Federation livestock group president Leonard Vallance, who said farmers were not reporting because they weren’t seeing results.

“It’s terribly frustrating for everyone involved,” he said.

“If $1.9 million worth of goods were stolen in Melbourne they’d be public outcry.

“When you’re a farmer no one cares.”

Mr Vallance stressed it wasn’t the “local country coppers’ fault” but a lack of police resourcing.

“(Over the next few weeks) they’ll all be on traffic duty in country areas and they won’t have time to chase stolen stock,” he said.

“We’re all expecting when dry breaks, the price of livestock will increase and theft will increase.”

farm crime pocket toon the weekly tiems

Inspector Karl Curran, head of Victoria Police’s new Farm Crime co-ordination Unit, said the increase of livestock theft, particularly sheep — being easier to transport than cattle — could be attributed to the rise of the “black market” and cases of “stealing to order”.

“As the market evolves and prices increase there’s a better profit for offenders,” he said.

“There’s a demand there; livestock can be illegally slaughtered, processed and sold.

“Offenders might know someone who is potentially in (meat processing), that knows how to butcher and prepare animals for slaughter, and they might not know those animals have been stolen.”

MORE: STAYING SILENT WON’T BEAT CRIME, FARMERS TOLD

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As for the significant rise in unsolved cases, Insp Curran said while it was relative to the increase in thefts, there was “policing practices (Victoria Police) really need to look at and improve”.

Insp Curran said his unit was focused on finding “the gaps” in how police operate, but needed everyone in the supply chain’s help in reporting all suspicious activity.

“It’s a double-edged sword for us; as confidence in reporting increases, (the numbers) increase. But we hope that happens,” he said.

“That’s someone’s livelihood that they’re impacting and that’s why we take it so seriously.”