SOUTHERN Grampians police conducted a stock theft campaign on Tuesday evening prior to today's Hamilton sheep sale.
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Detective Senior Constable Jarrod Anderson, of the Hamilton police crime investigation unit, said the operation on Tuesday night involved Hamilton CIU detectives, Hamilton uniform officers, Portland highway patrol members and Southern Grampians drivision response unit officers.
"We were around the saleyards and surrounding district with the primary focus of speaking to farmers and stock transport drivers," he said.
"We inspected paperwork to see it was in order and that sheep had the required ear tags. Everyone checked out OK."
Detective Senior Constable Anderson said there had been a number of stock thefts reported in the Southern Grampians region during the past few months.
"Some of those thefts have involved stock valued at more than $10,000," he said.
"Stock thefts is an ongoing problem and we just want people involved in that industry to be aware and observant."
The detective requested farmers and drivers to write down the registration plate number of suspicious vehicles, including vehicles towing trailers and trucks in unusual places.
"We'll be conducting more operations in the coming months," Detective Senior Constable Anderson said.