Farmers fall victim to rustlers
A quarter of farmers say they have had livestock stolen from them over the past five years, while a third have suffered from some form of theft in the last two years.
But livestock thefts have declined markedly since 2014 when a similar survey showed 46 per cent of farmers were victims of such thieves.
Federated Farmers rural crime portfolio leader Rick Powdrell said it was disappointing that so few thefts were reported.
‘‘It is telling - and wrong - that nearly 60 per cent of respondents said they had not reported stock theft to police, and 38 per cent had not reported stolen property.’’
Common reasons cited included that farmers did not think police would be interested, that police resources were too stretched, or that the theft was discovered days or weeks after it happened. More than 3 per cent had been hit by stock thieves five times or more since 2011.
About 35 per cent of 1000 surveyed farmers had suffered thefts of stock or farm equipment the past two years. Common targets included chainsaws, shearing gear, generators and fencing tools. Fuel was stolen from 25 per cent, household items from 8 per cent and, worryingly, nearly 2 per cent said firearms had been taken.
Nearly half of property thefts and 75 per cent of stock rustling/ killing were not covered by insurance, and of those that were, 40-50 per cent of farmers did not make a claim - usually because of the excess on the policy.
‘‘With better reporting, especially around suspicious activity, when the police investigate it they find it’s people they normally have on their books anyhow,’’ said Powdrell. ’’So all it’s doing is giving them a better picture of what those people are up to.’’
Crime tended to go in waves, depending on the area. ’’You get an increase in quad bikes and electric fencing gear at cannabis planting season. Also during kiwifruit season when there’s a lot of itinerant workers around.’’
Powdrell said he had received a report about many friesian bulls being stolen. ’’You have to be well organised to take large numbers of animals. They are what I call the professionals as against taking the odd sheep or cattle for meat.
‘‘They would have scoped the job out first and there would be a number of people involved, there needs to be a person who takes them and slots them into their herd,’’ he said.
The recent survey show that farmers are taking deterrence measures themselves (38 per cent have installed sensor lights, 20 per cent have security cameras and 35 per cent had placed their dogs’ kennels by sheds).