Four men have been charged after a sheep was allegedly killed at a property in the state's Central Tablelands yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 12 January 2021), officers from the Rural Crime Prevention Team and Chifley Police District responded to reports of a group of men trespassing at a property on Turondale Road, Turondale, 40km north of Bathurst.
Police have been told a 77-year-old man – who agists sheep at the property – attended and found four men trespassing, and a dead ram that had been shot through the neck with an arrow.
When confronted by the man, the group attempted to leave the property but were prevented leaving by the owner's vehicle until police arrived.
Police searched two vehicles belonging to the group and seized four compound bows, arrows and an esky containing butchered meat.
The men – aged 31, 34, 35 and 36 – were arrested and taken to Bathurst Police Station where they were each charged with:
• Kill cattle with intent to steal
• Commit an act of aggravated cruelty upon animal, and
• Enter land to hunt animal without owner's consent.
The 34-year-old man was also charged with common assault after he allegedly pushed the 77-year-old man.
All four men were granted strict conditional bail and are due to appear before Bathurst Local Court on Monday 1 February 2021.
State Rural Crime Coordinator, Detective Chief Inspector Cameron Whiteside, said the charges came as a result of quick action by the livestock owner.
"This incident stresses the importance of calling police immediately in respect to all rural crimes. Local police and Rural Crime Investigators are committed in supporting local landholders," Det Ch Insp Whiteside said.
"Timely reporting of these crimes increase the ability of your local police to tackle rural crimes that impact on our farmers.
"If you see something, say something."
