Preventing rural crime against farmers and rural industries is one of our priorities for Crime Stoppers and the NSW Police Force.
Crime Stoppers has invested over $250,000 in a range of marketing material to assist farmers, by helping to encourage reporting but also to prevent crimes.
The merchandise, which includes “No trespassing” gate signs, keyrings, notebooks, magnets, and stickers featuring the Police Assistance Line (PAL) details for reporting crime, is being distributed to farmers and landowners across the state.
This and other crime prevention strategies have been developed in consultation with the Crime Stopper’s Rural Crime Advisory Group consisting of representation from NSW Police Force, Centre for Rural Criminology at UNE, NSW Farmers Association, Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association, Australian Food and Fibre, Livestock & Transporters Association, Livestock, Bulk & Rural Carriers Association, and the Country Women’s Association who are also assisting with getting these items in the hands of farmers.
The Australian Hoteliers Association (AHA NSW) has also come on board by distributing rural crime themed coasters to its network of venues in regional NSW, with the aim of starting a conversation and encouraging the reporting of crimes.
Face to face engagement is also part of the plan with the NSW Police Force, Rural Crime Prevention Team and Crime Stoppers attending community events in regional areas to meet with the community and discuss local issues.
Crimes in rural NSW are both varied and distressing. Stolen livestock, farm machinery and fuel theft, illegal hunting and trespassing are all having a devastating effect on the people who live in our regional communities. This type of crime has significant financial, physical, and psychological devastation to farmers while effecting the wider economy.
The reporting of rural crime remains steady but lower than Police would like to see. When a crime is reported, particularly promptly, there is not just a greater chance of catching the perpetrators, but it increases the chance of recovering the stolen goods for our farmers.
It is absolutely imperative victims report. Your information matters. We cannot build capacity and infrastructure without information. Anything you provide Police or Crime Stoppers could be the missing piece of the puzzle needed to solve a crime.
Recently, a report to the Police Assistance Line led to a man being charged with the theft of irrigation equipment valued at around $30,000 and other offences. The Police investigated the report, arresting the man and recovering the stolen items.
In another incident, Police have recently arrested a man linked to several offences on rural properties across Central West NSW. These offences include the alleged theft of 1000 litres of diesel and damage to heavy machinery with an estimated value of more than $440,000.
CEO of Crime Stoppers NSW, Mr Peter Price said we can’t build community resilience and infrastructure if we are in the dark about farm crime.
“Being a victim of crime and reporting the crime, matters. If police don’t know about the crime, they can’t do anything. The more information reported, the better equipped the police are to act to prevent or solve a crime”, said Mr Price.
“If we all work together, the result will be a better, more prosperous future, and safer and healthier communities.
The State Rural Crime Coordinator of the NSWPF Rural Crime Prevention Team, Detective Chief Inspector Cameron Whiteside said under reporting of rural crime continues to be a major problem in helping police prevent, disrupt, and respond to crime.”
We need a whole of community approach to reduce and solve crime in regional areas and there are some measures that individuals can do to help prevent crime from happening to them,” said Det/Ch Insp Whiteside.
Farmers are urged to accurately record livestock identification, remove keys from machinery, keep photos of valuable stock to assist with identifying them and install quality locking devices on your gates, sheds, and equipment.”
If you see or hear of anything you believed to be suspicious, such as a vehicle in an area that’s not meant to be there, or stock being moved late at night; we urge you to call Crime Stoppers or your local police.
“We need to be better informed; we can’t do that without the public reporting crime.
There are many different ways the community can report crime in their area including PAL, their local police station, Crime Stoppers and Triple Zero for emergencies. The campaign centres on the tagline – Be a pal and report any theft, any time, to PAL on 131 444 – and – report suspicious or actual criminal information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Fact sheets with prevention measures for farmers can be found on the NSW Crime Stoppers website at https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/be-safe/.
This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 28 March 2024.
