Recent research shows a large slice of rural crime is not reported to police, and the total losses to Australian farms as a result of the illegal activities is estimated at $70 million a year.

Rural crime spokesman  and head of Western Region police, Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie, said there was a team of specialist rural crime investigators on the ground across the Barwon, Oxley and New England commands.

“We’re not seeing any significant increase in any of the crime categories at the moment, but certainly there are incidents of stock theft, fuel thefts and rural thefts. But the issue causing a lot of concern is incidents of trespassing and illegal hunting,” he said.

“We have our operations running all the time.

“We’re out there looking for these people who are flouting the laws and entering these properties without permission.”

Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said rural crime costs local landholders every year who in turn had to make claims for insurance.

He said a two-year corporate sponsorship with Allianz, announced at AgQuip this week, would facilitate community awareness of the issues and highlight crime prevention measures.

“It’s about raising the profile of the rural crime investigators and letting people know there are specialist investigators working on these issues and who are available for advice and guidance,” he said.

Police are urging landholders to be vigilant and invest in security cameras or CCTV networks to cover their assets.