Editorial: Bounty to nab rustlers a last resort

Lester Colvin has lost $4000 worth of sheep to rustlers.

Scores of illicit Sunday roasts were eaten yesterday.

Naturally I have no proof, but it's a logical inference given the raft of stock pilfering from the rural sector of late.

Last week, Swamp Rd farmer Lester Colvin made headlines by estimating he'd lost about $4000 worth of sheep to rustlers. Then on page 8 today we detail the anguish of Maraekakaho farmer Kevin Mawson after 10 of his ewes were stolen.

Shopping at The Mad Butcher at the weekend, I noticed a handful of in-store CCTV photos of shoplifters displayed behind the counter, banning those pictured from the butcher's franchise.

Meat is in demand.

Times are tough and rustling is a traditional crime.

But these aren't Robin Hood's Merry Men poaching the King's deer.

Hunger - a mitigating factor in the theft of food - is rarely the motive. The fetching price of lamb makes this a lucrative business.

From what we've seen when the cases come before court, these are often sophisticated groups of qualified butchers and boners creating a livelihood in the food industry underbelly by fleecing those who do so legally.

Mr Colvin last week offered a $1000 bounty. Apt, given it was once a crime that resulted in a posse and lynch mob.

Farmers are firearms owners. It won't be long before the inevitable headline will consist of a Mexican standoff down on the farm.

Thing is, these crimes are committed in an uncontrolled environment - animal welfare isn't a priority.

For our proud farmers, that's the cruellest cut of them all.