NCJ Number
206668
Date Published
2004
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This report describes what the Australian Government is doing to prevent farm crime, provides general tips for preventing farm crime, and profiles types of farm crime in Australia.
Abstract
Farm crime in Australia includes livestock theft; the theft of feed, produce, and fuel; vandalism/damage to farm property, including arson; trespassing on farm land; and the theft of farm machinery, vehicles, tools, and parts. Three surveys that focused on trends in farm crime found that 15 percent of respondents had experienced some type of crime in the first-year's survey, 13 percent in the second-year's survey, and 19 percent in the third-year's survey. Since 2001, the Australian Government, through the National Crime Prevention Program, has provided almost $500,000 to fund benchmark national research into crime on Australian farms. This research will facilitate the development of an understanding of the nature and dimensions of farm crime in Australia. Practical prevention steps suggested are the development and maintenance of good relations with neighbors, the installation of security lighting and closed-circuit television near the house and farm buildings, the use of electrical and alarm fences, the maintenance of gates with sturdy locks and hinges, and reporting all suspicious activity and crime to the local police or livestock squad. Some useful contact numbers are listed.