SHEEP-STEALING UP-TO-DATE.

Shannon News, 19 July 1929, Page 2

SHEEP-STEALING UP-TO-DATE.

NIGHT RAIDS WITH LORRIES,

"Losses estimated to cost sheepowners in Canterbury . thousands of pounds have been caused by the activities of sheep thieves, who are reported to have been operating consistently throughout the last month or two,"" says the Christchurch Sun. "Some of* the thefts-have been par-

ticularly barefaced. The most recent instance is that of-a North Canterbury station owner who awoke one morning to find that a small mob of fat sheep had disappeared. They had been grazing close to the house, and there was nothing to tell of their going, except a set of motor lorry tracks. The marketable value of the sheep would bo

from £SO to £6O. Other losses, involving the removal of fifty and as many as 100, sheep at a time have by no means been .uncommon. • "This time of the year, with the long winter nights, lends itself rather favourable to the offence. Raiding a flock under cover of darkness early in the evening, and transferring the stolen sheep to his motor lorry,' the thief can be well away from the scene of his operations when daylight comes, and practically immune from any risk of detection. The sheep are probably

I turned out to graze with the thief s own flock, and by the time shearing conies round the altered earmark has healed. When the sheep are shorn the brands are also removed. Thus all incriminating evidence is destroyed. 1 ' In the back . country the thefts are more extensive, as on the scattered runs loss may not be discovered for months, or until mustering takes place. In cases like this there is usually ample time for the sheep to be driven, instead of transported by lorries. The use of the motor lorry has raised a new prob 7 lem for the sheepowner, and one that is difficult to overcome."