Stud sheep breeder Garry Armstrong of Marrar is just one of the people who knows too well the cost of rural crime.  

He had 85 stud Poll Dorset ewes stolen last year. The ewes had a monetary value of $100,000.

But years of hard work and genetic selection had gone into producing stock of this calibre.

And Mr Armstrong had done everything right. He had records, electronic tags and the ewes were easily visually discernible from other stock. The theft was also reported to police promptly. 

He said rural crime was just as bad as it had ever been. Since the theft security has been stepped up and there is a policy to make sure someone is on the place. 

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Landholders say they are working with police but frustration in the Riverina is mounting.

In a bid to curb the loss of stock and property a social media group called Junee Shire Farm Watch was established in June 2018. The page now has more than 700 likes. 

A spokesperson for the page, who talked to The Rural on the condition of anonymity, said social media use encouraged vigilance and allowed community members to report rural crime. 

“While many instances of rural crime have been publicly disclosed including stolen sheep, tools and fuel, there are many instances of such that has not made the public domain,” the spokesperson said. 

“There are several instances of stolen sheep in the Old Junee, Junee, Eurongilly, Bethungra and Illabo regions which have not made the news and on some cases not even reported to police ... there have also been instances of fuel theft not publicly reported.”

There have also been reports of illegal hunting, where guns were used in close vicinity to private property from the side of public roads.

“The community is becoming increasingly frustrated with the prevalence, but more so with the lack of police resources to deal with reports and further the courts inability to adequately punish those caught red handed."

If one positive is to come out of the situation farmers have united in their own fight against crime. 

“It is great to know that so many are willing to share the posts from the page and encourage their own networks to be aware of rural crime, report rural crime and further take note of and report suspicious behaviour,” the spokesperson said. 

Riverina Police District Superintendent Bob Noble said there were five dedicated rural crime investigators in the Riverina and police had worked hard to build confidence. 

He said stealing livestock required a level of organisation in terms of methodology and then selling the stock on. Superintendent Noble said it appeared thieves were embracing technology such as drones, to "scope out" properties. However, he emphasised that police were also using technology to combat crime too. 

NSW Farmers Wagga district branch chairman Alan Brown said while police were ramping up their efforts the key was prevention. 

“If you make the target harder the thieves will (often) go away,” he said. Mr Brown encouraged the use of locks and cameras. He said if history was to be a guide convictions were hard to get and then penalties were often lenient. 

Meanwhile, NSW Police has indicated 350 litres of diesel was stolen from Harden on February 16. 

According to the Rural Crime Facebook Page the fuel was stolen from the fuel tank of an agricultural 'spreader.'

NSW Police also recommended people consider CCTV. If you have any information about rural crime contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.