Tasmanian farmers and graziers say small items of equipment, followed by fuel or machinery, such as quad bikes, are the biggest items stolen from their properties.
A Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers (TFGA) survey on rural crime mainly attracted responses from the northern Midlands and into the Meander Valley, Rural Affairs Manager Nick Steel said.
“It’s equipment, like grinders, which are easily taken, and if there is no lock on fuel supplies, they will take fuel,” Mr Steel said.
Common larger equipment targeted included quad bikes.
Nearly two thirds of respondents were running sheep, for prime lamb or mutton, with the remainder producing beef or wool.
Livestock theft remained a problem, with more than a quarter of respondents saying up to 20 head of animals had been taken.
“What was interesting was that 75pc of respondents reported the theft to police, so that’s a good thing,” Mr Steel said.
