Hundreds of sheep valued at approximately $95,000 have been stolen from a farm in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, with similar stock theft incidents reported in neighbouring areas and the Wheatbelt.
Details of the theft
A farmer from Pingrup recently reported the theft of 272 Ultra White pregnant ewes from his property. The theft is believed to have occurred between December last year and January this year.
Detective Senior Constable Michael Le Poidevin from the WA Police rural crime team stated that the missing sheep were discovered during a routine stocktake. He estimated a conservative loss of around $95,000 for the stolen animals.
Other incidents in the region
This sizable theft is not an isolated case. Two separate spates of thefts were reported in the Katanning area between December and January.
- One report detailed the loss of approximately 100 Merino ewes aged between one and seven years, worth about $17,500.
- Another reported the loss of 74 head of two-year-old Merino ewes, valued at approximately $16,000.
Additionally, 60 Merino ewes worth about $15,000 were reported stolen from a farm in the Wheatbelt between February and April.
Police call for reports
Farmers and pastoralists are encouraged to report any stock theft to their local police station, which will then pass the case to the rural crime team. Alternatively, they can contact the team directly at stocktheft@police.wa.gov.au.
