Agricultural crimes, like livestock theft, can be complex investigations. The latest tech innovations could offer solutions to protect farmers and their stock.
So how did those who organised such a big heist, which would likely have involved several trucks and insider knowledge, get away with it?"It's got to be someone that knows how to handle sheep. They'd have to have good dogs ... and good equipment," he says.
"Farms are big areas and farmers can't have their eyes over the whole place all the time … Some thieves are very opportunistic — in and out and gone before you know," he says.According to NSW police figures, an average of 16,700 sheep and 1,800 cattle were stolen each year in NSW between 2015 and 2020.
"Farmers are well aware of the environment in which they're operating. They understand the limitations on police," Dr Mulrooney says. "For example, if an offender was mustering the cattle, you'll get a notification of high movement that should encourage the farmer to act and call the police," Dr Mulrooney says.
Another new form of technology that could help solve farm theft is facial recognition for cows, based on UNE research calledDr Mulrooney describes it as "a version of Facebook for cattle", explaining how AI technology can be used to identify individual cows."A cow's nose is as distinct as a human fingerprint. And so these cameras can pick up on that distinctiveness and differentiate one cow from another cow.
Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside says prevention can be better than cure when it comes to agricultural crime.
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