Stock theft: Police response slammed as crime soars

Only four out of 266 reported livestock thefts have led to arrests in the 12 months to March.

online artwork june 26 theft rates

ONLY four of the 266 livestock thefts reported to Victoria Police in the past 12 months have led to arrests.

It's the highest number of reports, yet the lowest number of arrests in the past five years, according to Crime Statistics Agency data.

Victorian Farmers Federation livestock president Leonard Vallance described the trend, and the State Government and police response, as “pathetic”.

“You cannot take their position seriously, rural Victoria is becoming a Third World country,” Mr Vallance said. Victims of theft were hit “financially and psychologically”.

“They feel disillusioned and that has an impact on their welfare, putting more of a drain on rural medical system. (Governments) crap on about mental health but things like rural policing aren’t being addressed.”

The latest data shows stock theft continues to grow year-on-year, with 188 cases reported in Western Victoria alone, a 22 per cent lift on the previous results for that region.

Across the state, 266 incidents of livestock theft were reported in the 12 months to March, 34 more than the previous year and 103 cases more than five years ago.

The cost to Victorian farmers from livestock theft alone has also risen to a record of $1.65 million for the 12-month period.

Reports of theft of all property on Victorian farms also hit a five-year high, with police notified of 3582 incidents.

Mr Vallance said the Agricultural Liaison Police Officers program — which the Government had pledged for two years to review — lacked resources.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said the Government had designated an extra 319 police officers to regional and rural communities.

“These additional resources have enabled Victoria Police to undertake a number of targeted operations investigating livestock theft, particularly in the western region where this offending has increased, and they’re making arrests,” Ms Neville said.

She said the Victoria Police review of its AGLOs program was being finalised and would report on it soon.

Victoria Police Superintendent Peter Greaney, who heads the state’s farm crime investigations, said the CSA “numbers make it clear there is more work to do … livestock theft is a difficult one to investigate, the ID tags can be removed and replaced”. He said the arrest rate was also low compared with other thefts.

Mr Greaney confirmed a review of the AGLO program had been completed and he was “awaiting a decision” from executive command. He said this was unlikely to result in the reinstating of a dedicated stock squad in the short-term, “but I’d never say never”.