Property owners in the High Country are being urged to remain vigilant and alert to potential livestock thefts.
The warning comes following the thefts of cows and sheep from properties just outside Omeo.
Omeo police have appealed to farmers to undertake regular counts of their stock and report any unusual sightings of vehicles. Elders agent, David Hill, last month told the Advertiser he believed the thieves were “strategically” stealing small numbers of stock from various properties in the hope that farmers wouldn’t notice the losses.
Police say it’s important to report any stock missing.
Omeo police officer, Leading Senior Constable Diane Bloom, urged property owners to call police “if they see anything out of the ordinary”.
She said it was important to note registration numbers, which could assist police in quickly tracing suspicious vehicles. Meanwhile, 17 Angus and Black
Baldy cows that were stolen from a yard in Driffield in the Latrobe Valley last month are still under investigation.
The cattle, which belong to Ensay North farmer, Chris Commins, were stamped with a distinctive freeze 77 on their rump.
Despite two aircraft taking to the skies to try and find the cattle, the Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit told the Advertiser they still hadn’t been able to trace the stolen livestock.
However, it appears the news about their disappearance has reached the far corners of Australia with detectives fielding phone calls from north Queensland and proclamations to keep an eye out for them.
The beef cattle were valued at $1400-$1500 each and were on agistment in the Latrobe Valley following the Black Summer Bushfires.
IMAGE:
Omeo Leading Senior Constable, Diane Bloom, at the Mountain Calf sales recently. K78-6400
