More Than 5,000 Sheep Worth $1.7 Million Stolen From Rural Queensland Property

About 5,500 Dorper sheep, worth more than $1.7 million, have been stolen from a rural property near Blackall in Queensland.

The ewes and rams disappeared from the property on the Blackall-Isisford Road sometime between February and May. Detectives from the Rural and Stock Crime Squad are appealing to anyone who may have seen a flock matching the description to come forward.

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Livestock theft can result in substantial financial losses and place additional pressure on farming businesses already facing challenging conditions.

Police said the sheep carry white National Livestock Identification System tags. Investigators are also seeking information from people who noticed suspicious stock movements, livestock transport activity or other unusual behaviour in the area.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Elliot said livestock theft can cause substantial financial losses and add pressure to farming businesses already operating in difficult conditions. He said such investigations can span large areas, requiring police to work with producers, saleyards, transport operators and other industry participants to identify offenders and disrupt the activity.

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Livestock theft investigations can be complex, often spanning large geographical areas, which is why we work closely with producers, saleyards, transport operators and industry stakeholders to identify offenders and disrupt criminal activity.