Taskforce on rustling

Years ago a common response to allegations a farmer had stock stolen was " more stock have been lost on the woolshed door than ever rustled"! However today,with stock and meat values at record highs, correct tally recording and vigalence of suspicious behaviour is prudent to curb this ever increasing criminal behaviour.

With incidents increasing, farm security has become much more important than years ago when many farm houses did not even have a key to secure their homesteads, and the risk was low of any break in. A spate of farm bike and fuel thefts, has changed the rural communities laid back approach and now most are very aware of on farm security. A notebook in the farm ute or ATV to record any unusual behaviour along country roads is a valuable tool to help record incidents. Share your rural security experiences and ideas on how farmers can protect themselves from theft.

The farming community and police have joined forces to tackle what appears to be a wave of organised stock rustling around the district — with thefts of as many as 30 sheep in one night. Gisborne police area commander Inspector Sam Aberahama has called on farming communities, stock agents and transporters to be the “eyes and ears” of the combined campaign against rural crime. Farmers, stock agents and transport companies have joined with police and Federated Farmers to combat the underground rustling market.

Farmers on the Gisborne Flats are actively stepping up security levels in an attempt to tackle stock thefts. Increased paddock patrols have been reported and a farmer has just cancelled a family holiday to keep an eye on his stock. Another sheep farmer has bought high-powered spotlights for night monitoring and new locking systems have been installed on a number of farms. A butcher has told The Herald that he suspects a gang-affiliated stock rustling ring is operating in the Gisborne area and netting a small fortune.

"These guys would be looking at around $100 for an under-the-counter mutton, so you are talking about $2000 for a night’s work.They would tackle maybe three or four farms in one effort, and it could take months for farmers to notice a loss in stock. The butcher, who did not wish to be named, says he knows that in the past, organised gangs had access to a vast array of equipment, including bandsaws and chilling rooms.

Federated Farmers will upskill police in understanding how animal status declarations, stock movement and new tagging requirements mesh together. In return, farmers are urged to report any suspicious activity and unusual vehicles to police.“But police can’t do this alone and we rely heavily on the rural community to be our eyes and ears.