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As Livestock Theft Becomes A Growing Problem In Rural Australia, New Technologies Offer Hope

As Livestock Theft Becomes A Growing Problem In Rural Australia, New Technologies Offer Hope

By Kyle J.D.

 

Last week, it was reported that 700 sheep with an estimated value of $140,000, including nearly 200 valuable merino ewes, were stolen from a Victorian property in a highly sophisticated rural crime operation. Such large-scale rural theft is increasingly common.

Rural crime is not isolated to certain states. Rather, stock  is an Australian problem. Evidence from these large-scale thefts shows that offenders use "corridors" across state borders to move stolen rural property and livestock great distances.

Surveys conducted in Victoria and New South Wales found 70% and 80% of farmers had experienced some type of farm crime in their lifetime, and experienced this victimization repeatedly.

While farmers experience a variety of crimes, including trespass and illegal shooting on their properties, acquisitive crime—stock theft in particular—is one of the most common crimes faced by farmers.

The impact of "farm crime" is significant. Not only is the farming sector important to the Australian economy, but such crimes can have devastating financial, psychological and physical impacts on farmers, rural landowners and communities.

Why does it happen?

The high rates of theft in farming communities can be explained by unique geographic and cultural factors influencing the incidence and response to crime.

Let's consider geography in more detail. Rational choice theory suggests offenders make decisions to commit crimes by weighing the risks and rewards. The goal of crime prevention then is to increase risks and lower rewards.

In a busy city, for example, crime prevention might include tools such as locks, motion lights or CCTV, while the many people going about their business may deter criminals simply by being present.

The presence of formal guardians, such as the police or security guards, may serve to deter crime too. The  can also be designed and built in such a way as to discourage crime by limiting hiding places, exit points and escape routes.

The rural environment flips all of this on its head. It is often not possible to implement traditional crime prevention tools given the vast amount of wide-open space, nor are locks or gates always practical on a busy working farm.

The  means there are very few "eyes in the paddock" to witness and deter crime. A formal police presence is even more sparse, with slower response times than in urban areas.

The environment itself is also less conducive to  through evironmental design due to limited and spread-out infrastructure combined with a myriad of access points.

When we add all of this together, the risk-reward calculation for committing crimes such as stock theft in rural areas is often very favorable to offenders.

What can we do about it?

Innovations in policing and agricultural technology appear to offer some promising progress to combat farm crime.

The NSW Police have a dedicated Rural Crime Prevention Team. It's comprised of officers with cultural and practical knowledge of rural industry and the necessary training, skills and expertise to deal with farm crime.

This team has deployed innovative techniques to fight rural crime, and their efforts have contributed to increases in satisfaction with the police and, most importantly, in the reporting of rural crime by farmers.

Despite this, police are still operating in an environment that presents serious difficulties in preventing, investigating and clearing farm .

There are two key issues at work. The first is that farmers may check on stock only intermittently, and so be unaware of a theft for some time. The second is difficulty in tracking and identifying stolen stock.

New technology offers some solutions here. The Centre for Rural Criminology (UNE) staged a mock theft of livestock, with a live police intervention, to evaluate the ability of a smart animal ear tag to combat stock theft. The results were very promising.

Using the movement and location data provided by the tag, the farmers were alerted to the stock theft within minutes of the thieves entering the paddock. This enabled a rapid and effective response and recovery by the .

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Welcome to a riveting episode of "Guardians of Swine Health," where we embark on a journey through the intricate tapestry of swine health. Joining us today is the esteemed Dr. Gisele from Lanxess, a beacon in the field of biosecurity. Together, we delve into the enigma of PRRS and PEDV, unraveling the complexities that challenge swine herds worldwide. Exploring the Viral Enigma: Dr. Gisele takes center stage, guiding us through a captivating PowerPoint presentation. She unravels the mysteries surrounding PRRS and PEDV, shedding light on the pathogens that threaten the respiratory, reproductive, and digestive systems of our beloved swine populations. Focus on Critical Gaps: Our exploration zeroes in on the critical gaps that persist during disinfection and cleaning practices. Dr. Gisele, with her wealth of expertise, navigates us through the nuances of biosecurity, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach in safeguarding swine herds. Cost Savings through Strategic Biosecurity: The presentation takes an insightful turn as Dr. Gisele unveils the economic impact of strategic biosecurity measures. She demonstrates how a robust approach not only protects swine health but also translates into substantial cost savings for farmers. It's a win-win for both the pigs and the pocketbook.

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o Dr. Gisele unveils actionable strategies that not only enhance swine health but also contribute to significant cost savings for farmers.

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