More than 5,000 sheep worth $1.7m stolen from property in rural Qld

More than 5,000 sheep worth $1.7 million stolen from Blackall property in rural Queensland Approximately 5,500 dorper sheep worth more than $1.7 million have been stolen from a property in rural Queensland. Police are appealing for public assistance after the dorper ewes and rams were stolen between February and May this year from a property outside of Blackall on the Blackall-Isisford Road. Detectives from the Rural and Stock Crime Squad are asking anyone who may have seen a flock of dorper sheep "matching the description" to come forward. The sheep are fitted with white National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) tags, the police said in a statement. The statement added police are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who observed "suspicious stock movements, livestock transport activity, or other unusual behaviour in the area". Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Elliot from the Rural and Stock Crime said livestock theft remained a significant concern for police in rural Queensland. "Livestock theft can result in substantial financial losses and place additional pressure on farming businesses already facing challenging conditions," Detective Senior Sergeant Elliot said. "Livestock theft investigations can be complex, often spanning large geographical areas, which is why we work closely with producers, saleyards, transport operators and industry stakeholders to identify offenders and disrupt criminal activity."