It catches foxes, it catches kangaroos but it also catches number plates.
- Bruce Reynolds, NSW Farmers
Farmers are being urged to buy cheap motion-sensing cameras to help identify groups of Sydney pig-shooters who trespass on Orange area farms on long weekends.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Police and farmers have identified the visiting shooting parties as the area’s most prevalent rural crime problem.
Orange rural crime investigator Detective Senior Constable Sean Beckett said police would receive between five and 10 reports of the illegal shooters on long weekends. “It’s a steady trend,” he said.
Detective Beckett said the worst areas were north of Orange at Long Point and Mullion Creek.
He said that apart from trespassing there had been reports of fences and gates damaged and wildlife, including kangaroos, being attacked.
“The bring dogs with them,” he said.
“They target pigs but if they can’t get any they sometimes use the dogs on wildlife.
“You can’t go around shooting kangaroos,” he said.
Detective Beckett asked farmers to help identify the trespassers and report the crimes.
“We’ve found a lot of people don’t report crime thinking nothing can be done. We’re trying to improve that.”
He said farmers could help by installing security cameras.
“People can buy their own security cameras and set them up. It is helpful if they can get rego numbers and report them to police but don’t approach them because firearms are involved.”
NSW Farmers Orange branch chair Bruce Reynolds said farmers were buying small motion-sensing cameras to monitor crime.
“I am aware that a number of producers north of Orange have put in motion-sensing cameras. They cost about $100,” Mr Reynolds said.
He said the little camera was effective.
“It catches foxes, it catches kangaroos but it also catches number plates.”
Machinery and fuel theft from rural properties is also an on-going problem around Orange.
Byng graziers Will and Allan Hawke’s shearing shed was robbed of about $20,000 worth of equipment, including a generator, last year.
Will Hawke said that while the equipment had not been recovered they had beefed up their security significantly since.
He said that included installing several security cameras, locking gates and returning to writing down the number plates of any suspicious vehicles in the area.
“If you put a number of cameras up, they might find one, the might find a second one but the thinking is they won’t find the third one.
“It’s an awful feeling to come into your shed and realise that the equipment has been stolen.”
Mr Hawke said farmers needed to be more vigilant and security-conscious.
“I think farmers have tended to be a little too trusting and rely on their isolation.
“We used to be very particular about recording vehicle plate numbers but then we stopped.
“We’re back to taking number plates again. Any information that can be gotten for the police can be helpful.”