Three men will face an array of charges after being caught by police allegedly poaching 38 goats from properties in the state’s Central West overnight.
About 5am today (Friday 1 November 2019), officers attached to Central North Police District received reports of illegal hunting and goat poaching on a Louth Road property, about 25km north-west of Cobar.
Police responded, and a short time later, stopped a light truck within close proximity to the property.
It is alleged the truck’s rear cage contained 38 rangeland goats, as well as three hunting dogs which were found not to be microchipped.
Police spoke with the male occupants, two aged 27 and a third aged 28, before conducting a search of the vehicle and the men.
Following inquiries, police seized the truck under the Game and Feral Animal Control Act and released the goats to their natural environment.
The three Cobar men will be served with Future Court Attendance Notices for an array of offences.
Investigations continue with the assistance of Investigators from the Rural Crime Prevention Team.
Central North Police District Commander, Superintendent Andrew Hurst, said rural crime and the offenders causing harm to the rural community continue to be of focus.
“We are working hard to strengthen relationships between the rural community, and local police, including the Rural Crime Prevention Team, to encourage people to report rural crime so we can target suspects and disrupt criminal activity,” he said.
Rural Crime Prevention Team State Coordinator, Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside, said today’s result is a great example of timely reporting and the commitment of the local uniform police at Cobar to tackle rural crime.
“This interaction is on the back of a recent community forum in Cobar where the Rural Crime Prevention Team highlighted the need to call their local police immediately and report all rural crimes,” Det Insp Whiteside said.
“The forum also outlined measures that farmers can take to prevent these crimes, what to do when you are a victim of a rural crime and how to report it in a timely manner.
“The Rural Crime Prevention Team will continue to work with regional, rural and remote police in preventing and responding to rural crime, while disrupting those responsible.”
