Officers from the WA Police, Rural Crime Team have charged three men with stealing cattle after an extensive investigation.
In October 2022 a report of cattle theft from Louisa Downs was received. It is alleged the charged persons were responsible for organising and completing an unauthorised muster, of 306 cattle being trucked from Louisa Downs to the Northern Territory.
It is further alleged a camp was set up on the Louisa Downs Pastoral Aboriginal Corporation station and earth moving machinery was used to grade a road to an area on the neighbouring Mount Pierre Pastoral Aboriginal Corporation station. A portable set of cattle yards were erected at this location to facilitate mustering in this area. There were no permissions sought or granted to muster cattle from Mount Pierre Station.
Between 12 and 24 October 2022, one of the charged men facilitated a muster utilising two helicopters and a ground crew, which utilised bull catching buggies. The 306 cattle mustered from Mount Pierre Station and then trucked to a set of cattle yards and tagged as coming from Louisa Downs.
On 18 January 2024, at the request of the Rural Crime Team, Northern Territory Police executed an Extra-Territorial search warrant at a property on the Adelaide River in the Northern Territory.
Rural Crime Team officers were able to identify that some of the cattle had been sold and exported. The average price for the cattle sold at the time was $827.09 per head multiplied by 306 cattle taken, equalled $253,089.54. Part proceeds of cattle sales was allegedly deposited into several accounts of the accused people over several months.
On the 16 April 2024, a 42-year-old man from the Northern Territory, a 41-year-old man and a 39-year-old man, both from Fitzroy Crossing, were all charged with Stealing.
The 42-year-old man is next due to appear before the Fitzroy Crossing Magistrates Court on 9 July and the other two men are due to appear on 14 May 2024.
