North Otago's ongoing problem with sheep rustling could end in tears, and not just for the farmers losing valuable stock, Oamaru police say.
In a growing list of incidents, 80 hoggets were reported stolen from a farm in Herbert.
Senior Constable Stewart Hewett said it was suspected the thefts had taken place on two occasions. Between 30 and 40 year-old hoggets had been taken from a paddock last month, and the rest taken this week.
Last month, a farm at Danseys Pass lost 300 sheep, taken over the space of a month, and Snr Const Hewett said sheep stealing was becoming more common.
"This is something that is starting to happen a bit more.
The sad thing is, the more this keeps happening, the more chance there is that someone will get hurt one day."
Snr Const Hewett said yesterday he canvassed processing and freezing works in Oamaru to warn them to be on the look-out for people trying to sell lambs. The stolen lambs were easily identifiable, but so far no-one had reported anyone attempting to offload meat, he said.
"These were killable-age lambs and quite saleable. But 80 is quite a few, so they have obviously got a market for them."
