Police have released digitally generated images of three Middle Eastern men who stole merino sheep worth $12,000 from a farm in Strathlea, central Victoria.
Farmer and volunteer firefighter Tony Butler travelled to Melbourne with his family last week to protest against the Labor state government’s controversial Emergency Services Levy, but returned home to find 80 ewes had been stolen.
“You feel used, you feel defiled, you feel disrespected. That was just the icing on the cake, to come home and find someone had been helping themselves to your stock. That was the last straw – I’ve nearly had enough,” he told ABC News.
“I suspect that because of the farmers’ rally in Melbourne they [thought they] had less of a chance of being caught,” Mr Butler said.
“I bred them – they’re a beautiful wool-growing bloodline … two-and-a-half year old ewes, they were in lamb.”
Victoria Police said four men were witnessed herding the sheep into a light-blue coloured enclosed trailer at Browns Track about 8.30am on Wednesday, May 21.
“The trailer was being towed by an Iveco dual rear wheel white van and the men were perceived to be of Middle Eastern appearance,” police said.
“Investigators have released digitally generated images of three of the men, based on witness’ descriptions.
“Images of a van and trailer, believed to be similar to those used in the offence have also been released in the hope someone may be able to provide information to assist investigators with their enquiries.”
Police said livestock theft was causing “significant grief” to farmers in regional Victoria, and they were investigating whether animals were being transported to Melbourne or outer suburbs after being stolen.
Header image credit: Victoria Police.
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