Brazen thieves target four properties in outback Victoria

More than $255,000 worth of sheep have been stolen in brazen outback thefts across western Victoria.

More than 1100 merino sheep aged six months or older were swiped in large-scale thefts from four separate properties over the past two months.

Police are probing whether the heists from properties in Cavendish, Lake Bolac, Clunes and Coleraine are linked.

Police suspect a truck or multiple trips with a small trailer may have been used to steal the sheep.

Inspector Paul Hargreaves from the farm crime co-ordination unit urged the public to come forward if they knew or suspected anything.

“The information you have might be the last piece of the puzzle that could then solve the crime,” he said.

Inspector Hargraves said the sheep thefts were a “huge economic loss” to farming communities, but many incidents were not being reported.

“(This) hinders our ability to prevent, disrupt or respond to incidents of livestock theft,” he said.

“While we acknowledge the work of local farmers in protecting their livestock, the farming community, including farmers, neighbours, stock agents and transporters, can always do better by keeping an eye out for suspicious activity and reporting anything out of the ordinary to police.”

The thefts include 339 sheep from a Cavendish property, believed stolen between October 18 and November 11; 450 sheep from a property in Lake Bolac, believed stolen between October 25 and December 17; 240 sheep from a property in Clunes, believed stolen between November 17 and December 9; and 100 sheep from a property in Coleraine, believed stolen between December 5 and December 20.

If you’re the victim of livestock theft, contact your local police station or the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or phone triple-0 for immediate assistance.

Anyone in the farming community who notices suspicious activity, no matter how small, is encouraged to contact their local police station immediately or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.