General News
1 March, 2023
Sheep theft not new: grazier
DISTRICT farmers had been plagued by sheep theft for generations, according to Logan’s Peter Vanrenen. The former Merino stud principal who switched to cropping two years after the family had bred sheep for 140 years, said livestock theft had been...
DISTRICT farmers had been plagued by sheep theft for generations, according to Logan’s Peter Vanrenen.
The former Merino stud principal who switched to cropping two years after the family had bred sheep for 140 years, said livestock theft had been an ongoing problem.
“We lost 300 one year back in the 1980s,” he said as police announced an investigation into the theft of 700 sheep at another Logan property.
“We had a lot going in the 1970s and 1980s. There’s been sheep thefts around here for generations.”
Mr Vanrenen said he had installed additional security camera over the years to deter thieves.
“If there’s a theft, we need to report it to police,” he said.
“That will help police understand the size of the problem.”
Leading Senior Constable Dan O’Bree of the farm crime co-ordination unit described the latest reported Logan theft as brazen.
Senior Constable O’Bree said the theft was possibly “very well planned”.
He said police were looking for information on truck movement in the area, particularly B-Doubles and double-deckers.
“This is one of the biggest livestock thefts I have seen,” he said. “The owner is pretty shattered.”
Senior Constable O’Bree said 197 Merino ewes with purple ear tags had been in the haul from Logan.
He said the large-frame sheep were almost three years old and would weigh about 60kg. Many were in lamb. The reported theft also included 493 white Suffolk-Merino cross lambs with red ear tags.
Senior Constable O’Bree said they were stolen from a farm on Gowar-Logan Road, between October 21 and February 1.
He said the farmer had checked stock on the 485-hectare property in December and believed 1800 sheep were in their paddocks.
Senior Constable O’Bree said it was when bringing sheep in for shearing that the farmer noticed lesser numbers.
Police said the missing Merino sheep are valued at approximately $139,000 and were in full wool at the time of the theft.
“Investigators believe that the stock may have been transported interstate,” they said last Thursday.
“To transport such a large number of livestock, investigators believe the offenders would have needed to use at least two four-decker trucks if the thefts occurred on one occasion.
“It is thought that the offenders would have also needed to utilise a significant amount of portable fencing, as well as sheep dogs to round up the livestock.
“Police were notified as soon as the missing sheep were noticed.”
Leading Senior Constable O’Bree estimated that less than half of livestock thefts were being reported to police.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au