Farmers should report rural crime early, even if there is uncertainty whether stock are missing or stolen, police said at the launch of a rural crime blitz across the Hume Police District on Wednesday.
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Police and Crime Stoppers have partnered to target illegal hunting, stock theft, trespassing and firearm theft.
These areas of rural crime are not new to local police investigations, but officers hope the partnership will encourage more farmers to speak up early, Superintendent Christopher Schilt of Goulburn Police Station said.
"We know rural crime is something affecting many of our community members," Superintendent Schilt said.
"If you suspect something, if you see something, we encourage you to say something."
More than 20,000 stock were stolen from NSW farms in 2018 and about 340 sheep and cattle have been stolen in the Hume Police District since January, Superintendent Schilt said.
However, not all stock theft is reported and that number could be higher, Superintendent Schilt said
Police can update a report if stock are found later, acting Officer in Charge of Goulburn Police Station, Sergeant Matt Owen said.
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"In the Rural Crime Prevention Team, we understand the industry and that livestock management practices dictate that you don't get stock counts everyday or every week," Rural Crime Southern Zone coordinator Detective Sergeant Damian Nott.
"We understand it can often be up to three months until you get accurate numbers on stock count. It's very normal for us to get late reports.
"We'd always rather celebrate with you that they've turned up than miss out on opportunities to get in on the investigation," Sergeant Nott said.
A new rural crime investigator will join the Hume Police District soon, increasing the rural crime unit based at Goulburn Police Station from one to two.
They will join rural crime officer, Detective Senior Constable Mick Calleja.
The date of the rural crime investigator's appointment would be announced in the coming weeks, Superintendent Schilt.
The rural crime blitz has also been launched in Oxley, Orana Mid Western and Central North Police Districts and will launch in the Murrumbidgee and Murray River Police Districts this September.
Contact your local police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
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