25 October, 2013 6:25PM AEST  Stock theft penalties increase
Duffers beware, the Queensland government has increased fines
for stock theft.    • Print Print page   • Email Email this   •
Permalink Permalink   • Share  Changes to state laws increase
the minimum fine for a range of stock offences from $200 to
$1,100 per animal, or the value of the animal, and police search
warrants will be extended from seven to 21 days.  "When you get
successful prosecution it is a real deterrent to those persons
out there who commit these sort of offences," says Senior
Sergeant Trevor Stevens from the southern area Stock Squad.  "We
all know the timeframes involved with growing a beast from
conception to having a marketable product. We're often looking
at 3 to 4 years. If you steal an animal it's more or less taking
that livelihood from the producer for each beast that's stolen."
Stevens says cross-border theft is still an issue. "Victoria has
no branding legislation. We do get a lot of cattle coming over
the border for adj