Sheep theft not new in district, says grazier

DISTRICT farmers had been plagued by sheep theft for generations, according to Logan’s Peter Vanrenen.

The former Merino stud principal who switched to cropping two years after the family had bred sheep for 140 years, said livestock theft had been an ongoing problem.

“We lost 300 one year back in the 1980s,” he said as police announced an investigation into the theft of 700 sheep at another Logan property.

“We had a lot going in the 1970s and 1980s. There’s been sheep thefts around here for generations.”

Mr Vanrenen said he had installed additional security camera over the years to deter thieves.

“If there’s a theft, we need to report it to police,” he said.

“That will help police understand the size of the problem.”

Leading Senior Constable Dan O’Bree of the farm crime co-ordination unit described the latest reported Logan theft as brazen.

Senior Constable O’Bree said the theft was possibly “very well planned”.

He said police were looking for information on truck movement in the area, particularly B-Doubles and double-deckers.

“This is one of the biggest livestock thefts I have seen,” he said.

“The owner is pretty shattered.”

Senior Constable O’Bree said 197 Merino ewes with purple ear tags had been in the haul from Logan.

He said the large-frame sheep were almost three years old and would weigh about 60kg. Many