SHEEP STEALING IN N.S.W.

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27415, 30 July 1954, Page 6

SHEEP STEALING IN N.S.W.

Heavy Losses In Riverina TRUCKS AND TRAILERS USED BY THIEVES (From the Australian Correspondent ol “The Press”) SYDNEY, July 23. Well-organised gangs are stealing sheep from stations in Riverina, southwestern New South Wales. Detectives say that tbe loss to graziers amounts to about £30,000 in the last 12 months. A sheep of good quality in the district is worth about £7. Some farmers in the district have lost sheep valued up to £l5OO in one night. Police have covered hundreds of square miles during their investigations in the last eight weeks. They have made an arrest while making these inquiries. The gangs have cut fences and herded the sheep into semi-trailers with the aid of dogs. To avoid suspicion, they have usually taken a small number of sheep from each paddock,

and have mended fences before driving away. Police say the gangs are operating so skilfully that they have not even left truck wheel marks. Graziers do not know their sheep have been stolen until they count ttyem. Police believe that the gangs fake the earmarks of the stolen sheep. The district is about 200 miles from the Victorian border. Police say the gangs are stealing the sheep at night and driving them into Victoria on the same night, where they are sold. The gangs have been taking different routes, and police have had difficulty in tracing them. The Graziers’ Association has asked the police to take strict measures against the thieves. It has asked for a check of vehicles found carrying livestock at night.