Six new rural crime investigators are set to hit the beat across country NSW to help drought-stricken farmers targeted by crooks.
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Despite crime "generally on the decline", the new detectives will be posted across Western NSW as well as three on the North Coast, the state's Police Minister David Elliot has announced.
It'll enable rural crime officers, who already work as single units, to move on crime quicker, combating stock theft, trespass, illegal hunting and firearm theft.
"Crime across NSW generally is on the decline," Mr Elliot said.
Illegal hunting and trespassing are also areas of concern for police and rural crime investigators will look to conduct even more checks on stock trucks moving throughout NSW, Assistant NSW Police Commissioner Geoff McKechnie said.
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"We are going to put trained investigators, trained detectives in places they've never been before," he said.
"Statistically we are seeing a steadying in the number of cattle that are being stolen, but we're seeing increases around goats, smaller animals and those things that these people who find themselves on peoples properties are stealing."
He said the positions allow for "capability in places we haven't previously had before".
"That capacity will be boosted by a second officer, giving those communities far greater levels of coverage," he said.
"Our Rural Crime Investigators are very mobile, they understand the importance of getting out to these far-flung locations, and also being present at sale yards like this one right across the state where stock eventually end up; a lot are being lawfully sold of course, but certainly on occasions some illegally-obtained stock come through sale yards so we do have a significant focus on that.
"We're always out at the goat depots, at locations where stock are moving through those points, and we certainly are still conducting checks on stock trucks moving throughout NSW."
Assistant Commissioner McKechnie has urged the public to work with their Rural Crime investigators well before a problem occurs.
"When people realise that there is someone working in their local police district that understands the language, what they're talking about, that is there, dedicated to look after their concerns around crime and safety - the things affecting their communities - we've seen people come onboard, and we've urged that as well," he said.
