Three men have been arrested for allegedly stealing 306 head of cattle worth $250,000.
Western Australian police alleged the operation took place in October 2022 and involved the unauthorized collection of livestock from an isolated station in the northern part of the state.
“It is alleged that the charged individuals were responsible for organizing and completing an unauthorized sampling involving the transport of 306 head of cattle from Louisa Downs to the Northern Territory,” a police statement said.
Three men have been charged over the alleged theft of 306 cows, worth approximately $250,000, in October 2022 (stock image)
‘It is further alleged that a camp was set up at the Louisa Downs Pastoral Aboriginal Corporation station and earth-moving equipment was used to level a road to an area at the neighboring Mount Pierre Pastoral Aboriginal Corporation station.
“A portable set of cattle yards has been constructed at this location to facilitate mustering in this area.
“No permission was sought or granted to round up livestock from Mount Pierre Station.”
‘Between October 12 and 24, 2022, one of the accused men facilitated a sampling using two helicopters and a ground crew, who used buggies to capture bulls.
‘The 306 head of cattle gathered from Mount Pierre Station and were then transported by truck to a number of cattle yards and marked as coming from Louisa Downs.’
About 306 cattle are believed to have been stolen from Louisa Downs in northern WA
In January this year, Northern Territory Police executed an extraterritorial search warrant at a property on the Adelaide River at the request of the WA Rural Crime Team.
“Rural Crime Team officers were able to determine that some of the livestock had been sold and exported,” she added.
“The average price for cattle sold at the time was $827.09 per head.
Multiplied by the captured cattle of 306, the alleged theft amounted to $253,089.54.
‘Part of the proceeds from the cattle sale are said to have been deposited into various accounts of the suspects over several months.
On April 16, a 42-year-old man from the Northern Territory, a 41-year-old man and a 39-year-old man from Fitzroy Crossing were charged with theft, police said.
The 42-year-old man is due to appear at the Fitzroy Crossing Magistrates Court on July 9 and the other two are due to appear on May 14.
One man is said to have rounded up the cattle with a helicopter (stock photo), while a ground crew using bull-catching buggies