Farmers are being told by Victoria Police to urgently improve security on their properties and protect themselves from thieves.
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Recently released crime data for 2021 shows diesel theft rose by 20 per cent and livestock theft increased by 12.6 per cent compared to 2020.
On March 23, Crime Stoppers Victoria and Victoria Police launched a new campaign — ‘Shut Out Farm Crime’ — to bring attention to the escalating figures.
Warrak sheep farmer Daniel Buckingham told Crime Stoppers Victoria the rise of fuel theft was particularly concerning to him given the surging cost, and said the crime was often carried out without the victim realising.
“When someone's taken 30 or 60 litres out of a 400-litre tank you’re probably not going to take too much notice of it. I think it's going to be an increasing problem,” Mr Buckingham said.
Inspector Karl Curran from Victoria Police’s Farm Crime Coordination Unit said rural crime was historically under-reported.
The Crime Statistics Agency, which releases data collected by Victoria Police, said the more reporting farmers did, the better the police could identify crime trends and put resources in their area.
Improving security includes anything that makes it harder for a stranger to access your property.
As part of the police campaign, farmers will be offered free farm gate security signs at agricultural events throughout 2022.
Other methods include tagging livestock, locking gates and sheds, securing tools and equipment and, where possible, locking fuel bowsers and storage tanks.
Sensor lights are another winner and are recommended, along with doing regular stock head counts so theft can be identified as soon as possible.
If you plan to put security cameras up, make them obvious. They will go a long way to discouraging unwanted visitors and will stop a crime before it happens.
What are people stealing?
Livestock, machinery (particularly vehicles), tools and diesel are the big four in farm crime.
In 2021, Victorian residents lost $13 million in power tools, $2.9 million in livestock and $31,386 in diesel fuel.
Some particularly costly thefts in 2021 include: $91,400 in livestock from Thoona; $41,847 in power tools from Mooroopna; $66,000 in livestock from Karramomus; $40,000 in jewellery from Katandra West; $40,000 in timber and building materials from Seymour; $50,000 in ‘garden items’ from Rutherglen; and $45,000 in tools from Wandong.
Keep in mind these dollar values represent items stolen from a single owner or family.
What animals are being stolen?
Sheep are far and away the most popular for Victorian thieves.
In 2012, 139 sheep were taken; that same year 48 cattle were taken, two steers, five goats, six horses and one pig.
In 2015 the statistics saw a bit of diversity, with three deer and five poultry being lost to foul play, but sheep remained on top of the numbers (81 went missing) compared to 63 cattle, two steers and 10 horses.
In 2017, a whopping 147 sheep vanished while cattle farmers only lost 45 cows/bulls and four steers. Ten horses, five goats, two pigs and one llama were also stolen.
One llama was also stolen in 2018 alongside one camel, one poultry, two pigs, five goats, 14 horses, 49 cattle, three steers and 177 sheep.
It should also be noted that in 2020, 10 ‘domestic pets’ were stolen with a combined value of $50,350 — the highest in the decade.
The most expensive year for livestock theft was 2021.
More than half of the year’s $2.7 million worth of stolen livestock was sheep (158 missing to the tune of $1.8 million), followed by 75 cattle, five steers, 12 goats, six horses, two deer and one poultry.
Crimes committed on farms
Arson, property damage, burglaries and thefts were the main crimes committed on northern Victorian farms in 2021.
The only crime outside these four that appeared in the 2021 Victoria Police data was deception (obtain benefit by deception), which was recorded in Greater Shepparton (one offence), Moira (two offences), Strathbogie (one offence) and Gannawarra (one offence).
In terms of arson, Campaspe had the highest rate with seven counts.
Campaspe also had the highest rate of general thefts — the shire recorded 15 thefts from cars, three theft offences from receiving stolen goods and 42 counts of general thefts.
The Alpine Shire and Mansfield were tied for the least amount of thefts, both only recording two general theft offences on farm properties in 2021.
Both High Country locations also recorded only one burglary and one stolen vehicle.
Greater Shepparton farms suffered from the highest number of vehicle thefts in Country News’ readership, with 21 stolen vehicles and one bicycle theft.
COUNTING THE COST
Benalla Rural City
Baddaginnie: $4800 in power tools and $9243 in livestock.
Benalla: $15,895, $10,190 and $9116 in power tools.
City of Greater Shepparton
Shepparton: $292,279 in cash/documents, $8250 in firearms and ammo, $96,000 in jewellery, $42,097 in power tools and $66,023 in car accessories.
Mooroopna: $41,847 in power tools.
Girgarre East: $37,340 in sporting goods.
Undera: $15,000 in livestock.
Lancaster: $10,000 in livestock.
Moira Shire
Brimin: $25,000 in livestock.
Yarrawonga: $11,365 in tools, $19,400 in jewellery, $5000 in livestock, $25,000 in marine property (boating).
Rutherglen: $50,000 in gardening items.
Strathmerton: $10,000 in livestock.
Tungamah: $19,220 in livestock
Wilby: $11,200 in livestock.
Alpine and Strathbogie shires
Mia Mia: $22,600 in livestock.
Murrindindi: $108,000 in livestock (this theft involved one Angus bull, which was recovered).
Yarck: $28,000 in livestock.
Strathbogie: $33,500 in livestock.
Mitchell Shire
Beveridge: $18,000 and $21,758 in power tools.
Wallan: $109,950 in cash/documents.
Wandong: $45,000 in tools.
Kilmore: $14,050 in domestic pets.
Kirwans Bridge: $15,000 in power tools.
Campaspe Shire
Diggora: $16,700 in livestock.
Runnymede: $16,998 in garden items.
Rochester: $2000 in livestock and $20,000 in jewellery.
Bamawm Extension: $13,500 in livestock.
Kyabram: $7500 in firearms and ammunition.
Tongala: $7500 in domestic pets.
Gannawarra and Loddon shires
Leitchville: $6000 in cash/documents, $6800 in tools.
Cohuna: $33,000 in cash/documents.
Daltons Bridge: $35,000 in marine equipment (boating).
Inglewood: $150,300 in cash/documents.
Boort: $20,000 in cigarettes and liquor, $93,309 in cash/documents.
Journalist