A Binnaway man has been charged with multiple rural crime offences, including the theft of almost three dozen sheep, and will face court in November after a joint police investigation of his property earlier this month.

In early September 2021, investigators from the Orana Mid-Western Police District and the Rural Crime Prevention Team began investigating the theft of 34 sheep from a Binnaway property, south of Coonabarabran.

Following inquiries, a search warrant was later executed on Friday 10 September at a property on Bourkes and Halls Road, Binnaway just before midday.

During the search, officers located and seized 31 sheep, five rifles, firearm parts, cannabis, explosives and 62 kilograms of wool.

During their search, police seized more than 30 stolen sheep, wool, and several illicit items. PHOTO COURTESY OF NSW POLICE

The occupant of the property, a 63-year-old man, was interviewed and has since been issued a court attendance notice for multiple offences.

The charges were: possess shortened firearm without authority; possess more than three unregistered firearms without licence/permit; not keep firearm safely-not pistol/prohibited firearm; possess prohibited drug (x2); steal cattle; take and use others cattle; alter, destroy authorised stock identifier; possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority; and possess, supply or make explosive for unlawful purpose.

The man is due to face Coonabarabran Local Court on Friday 19 November 2021. Leaders of the joint investigation have since complimented the partnership between the two police units.

Orana Mid-Western Police District Commander Danny Sullivan said rural crime was taken very seriously and he was looking forward to working closely with the industry to prevent and disrupt it.

“I am pleased with the partnership between officers at Orana Mid-Western Police District and the Rural Crime Prevention team,” Supt Sullivan said.

State Rural Crime Coordinator Detective Chief Inspector Cameron Whiteside said his team had observed a decrease in rural crime over the past year, from stock theft to illegal hunting and trespassing, although this could be due to a variety of factors.

"Because of COVID, a lot more people have been at home or working from home, meaning farms are occupied and there's more natural surveillance on their properties," Det Chief Insp Whiteside said.

"However, to put this into perspective, the vast majority of rural crimes go unreported, not just here in NSW. So to see a reduction in rural crime is positive but this shouldn't stop the members of our community from reporting rural crimes to us."

According to Det Chief Insp Whiteside, based on data recorded in a survey taken by the University of New England in 2020, 81 per cent of NSW farmers reported being a victim of farm crime, with 88 per cent of those being victims on two or more occasions. Over a third said it had happened to them seven or more times.

He said the Rural Crime Prevention Team were primarily focused on preventing crime rather than simply responding to them because rapid reporting for crimes like stock theft was crucial.

According to Det Chief Insp Whiteside, reporting livestock theft as soon as it is suspected of occurring was crucial because of how quickly they can be moved. PHOTO COURTESY OF NSW POLICE.

"We really need to narrow down the window of reporting - in some cases, by the time some stock has been reported as stolen, it can be on the other side of the country," he said.

“I encourage farmers to report all rural crime to local police as soon as possible, this will increase the opportunity for a positive outcome.

"Rural crime investigations survive on the partnership between police and the farmer."

Anyone with information about any kind of rural crime is urged to contact their local police or Crime Stoppers via 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.