Men charged with rustling 1000-plus sheep in North-West NSW

Police allege the men, aged 36 and 67, were involved in 1000-plus sheep being stolen from properties around Fords Bridge this year, about 60 kilometers north-west of Bourke, and then on-sold for financial gain. 

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Following investigations last week, Darling River officers executed a warrant on a property at Fords Bridge, where police they said they found an alleged stolen bulldozer, a number of stock ear tags, unregistered and unsecured firearms, and stock records and documents, all of which were seized for forensic examination.

On Friday a 36-year-old man attended Bourke Police Station where he was arrested and charged with stealing stock, as well as using a telecommunication device to threaten/harass/intimidate and threaten a witness.

The man was initially refused bail, but was granted strict conditional bail on Saturday. He will again appear at Bourke Local Court on Thursday September 7. 

A 67-year-old also presented at Bourke Police Station on Saturday, where he was charged with stealing cattle, larceny and possession of three or more firearms with one prohibited.

He was also held in custody, but released on strict bail conditions after an appearance at Bourke Local Court on Sunday. 

He’ll also face court again on September 7. 

Darling River crime manager, Detective Inspector Rod Grant, said the thefts that sparked operation Horsell had the potential to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“While earmarking, tagging, securing your property and accurate stock recording are excellent deterrents to stock theft; I strongly encourage the rural community to report all theft and suspicious behaviour to police,” Mr Grant said.

“What may appear to be a minor theft or odd behaviour to a local farmer could be the missing piece of information to help police identify an offender”.