A man has been arrested after he allegedly stole cattle from a Tungkillo property, according to SA Police.
Police will allege that a large amount of Santa Gertrudis x heifer cattle were put on the property in May. When the owner went to collect them in September, 81 of the animals had been stolen.
Further investigations led police to arrest a 52-year-old Tungkillo man yesterday, and he was charged with theft.
He was refused bail and will appear in the Murray Bridge Magistrates Court today.
Operation Poach was introduced by SAPOL in July 2011 as a direct response to the increased reporting of livestock theft across the State. The theft of commercial quantities of livestock has serious consequences for the South Australian primary production sector.
The objective of the operation is to bring about a sustained reduction in overall livestock theft. Expected outcomes of Operation Poach include:
- identification of the criminal activity and patterns associated with livestock theft within and across country Local Service Area’s (LSAs)
- investigation and disruption of livestock theft and associated crime
- to increase reported livestock crime by report or arrest
- engagement with local and other external agencies and community including livestock industry stakeholders in reducing livestock theft, by means of crime prevention and intelligence activities
