Mayor hit by sheep rustling

Police are investigating the theft of 307 lambs, worth about $40,000, from a property owned by Kaipara District Mayor Jason Smith.

Dr Smith says he has no idea how such a quantity could have been trucked away without anyone noticing, and that it would be a challenge for the Police to solve.

The lambs disappeared some time over a period of two weeks, between when they were counted on November 17 and then found to be missing on December 1.

“The theft was discovered when they were being taken to the saleyards and the stock agent asked where the rest of them were,” Dr Smith says.

Dr Smith says he is confident that Police will be able “get to the bottom of it”. He says a few hundred sheep don’t just disappear without somebody noticing something.

He is encouraging anyone with information about the theft to contact Police on 105 and quote the file number 211202/0190.

Senior Sergeant John Clayton says livestock theft does occur in Kaipara “from time to time” but a theft on this scale is not common.

“It’s a good reminder to regularly check your boundaries and fence lines,” Sen. Sgt Clayton says. “This includes putting locks on any gates that open onto a road.

“We also advise clearly tagging animals and keeping accurate up to date stock records.”