RURAL crime must be reported to be investigated.
This was the message delivered by Superintendent Shane Cribb from the Canobolas Local Area Command to more than 500 members of the Country Women’s Association of NSW’s Annual General Meeting this week.
The keynote speaker for the conference urged the crowd to ensure rural crime in their areas was reported.
“Rural crime continues to increase and only 50 per cent of crimes are actually reported to police,” he said.
Superintendent Cribb said rural crime was increasing due to market prices, weather patterns and distances in rural areas.
“As livestock market prices increase, so does the reported number of of stock thefts, and the same goes for diesel prices,” he said.
Superintendent Cribb said victims often didn’t report crimes because there was no proof, it was not a serious offence or they believed the police could do nothing about it.
The crowd was also encouraged to embrace the use of social media to report crimes.
“Producers are often more comfortable with face-to-face contact and are reluctant to engage with online reporting on social media,” he said. “But social media is the future, whether we like it or not.”
According to Superintendent Cribb, around 85,000 sheep and more than 6500 cattle were stolen in NSW between January 2010 and December 2014.
“This has cost the rural industry around $13 million,” he said.
The numbers were just as concerning when it came to diesel fuel, with 517,600 litres stolen in the same period, a loss of around $801,000.
He said these kinds of crimes had a massive impact on victims, who were possibly also already struggling with the impacts of drought and commodity prices.
“Not only do they endure financial losses, but there are ongoing ramifications from a loss of future breeding and bloodlines,” he said.
Superintendent Cribb said there were 33 Rural Crime Investigators in NSW, but his take home message was that prevention was better than cure.
“To combat crime effectively, police need to hear about it,” he said.
“Rural crime must be reported to be investigated.”
