A COONABARABRAN man will front court accused of stealing goats, other hunting offences and threatening a farmer.
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Following investigations, rural crime officers charged the 34-year-old man with a raft of offences and have now seized his ute after an alleged altercation at Dandry, between the Pilliga and Coonabarabran, on February 25.
Police will allege the 34-year-old was with two other men and stole goats from a Dandry property. Whilst in the act, police have been told the farm's owner approached the man and stole the keys to the utility.
"Three goats had been loaded into the caged area of the vehicle and the 34-year-old has captured a fourth goat, which he had slung over his shoulders returning to the vehicle with it," a police spokesperson said.
"The owner of the property confronted the males and an argument developed. The landholder removed the keys from the vehicle and he requested the goats be returned to the paddock in exchange for the keys."
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Police allege the 34-year-old then brandished a knife, and threatened the landholder, before he was given the keys. He left with the goats.
Officers said the men were stopped "whilst en route to Coonabarabran by the farmer" who was leasing the property, and who was the rightful owner of the goats, before the animals were returned.
Following investigations by rural crime officers, the 34-year-old was arrested in Dalgarno Street in Coonabarabran and charged with stealing goats, intimidation, hunting on private land, and other hunting offences.
He was granted conditional bail to front Coonabarabran court in May.
Please let this be a warning to anyone that hunts illegally. We continually promote that the Rural Crime Prevention Team has a zero tolerance to any type of: illegal hunting; trespassing; and stealing from our farmers.
- State Rural Crime Coordinator Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside
State Rural Crime Coordinator Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside confirmed investigators had seized the man's ute and would seek a court order to have it disposed.
"Please let this be a warning to anyone that hunts illegally. We continually promote that the Rural Crime Prevention Team has a zero tolerance to any type of: illegal hunting; trespassing; and stealing from our farmers," he said.
"This is not the first, and sadly I don't believe it will be the last vehicle and hunting equipment that we will have to seize from those that think they can carry on like this.
"Many think that Rangeland Goats can't be stolen, however they can under certain circumstances.
"In times of drought landholders rely heavily on the production of goats to support their farm and families."
The involvement of the other two men is still under investigation by police, Detective Whiteside said.
