Farmers are being urged to ensure their young livestock are marked and tagged with lambs now a prime target.
Warrnambool-based livestock special investigator Detective Senior Constable Wayne Ryan said lambs were now generally at an age which would attract the attention of offenders.
"It's the prime lamb theft season," he said.
"Police are now more than ever focusing on rural crime and again requesting that people in rural communities be vigilant," he said.
"The force has members dedicated to conducting thorough investigations into all rural crime and something that may seem insignificant to a passer-by may be the missing piece of information that ties an investigation together."
Detective Senior Constable Ryan said there had been seen some great changes in behaviour.
"More gates are locked, CCTV cameras installed, keys being removed from vehicles, guns are being properly secured and farmers are generally keeping an eye out for each other," he said.
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