The Major and Organised Crime Squad (Rural) have recently received a number of fraud complaints where victims have entered into agreements with people purporting to be beef or wild game wholesalers, specifically, kangaroo meat.
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Police say the offenders offer high price returns but once the meat is sold, the complainants are not paid.
Police urge producers to exercise caution when entering into arrangements with new and unknown buyers and wholesalers.
Police also urge the community to report any incidents of fraudulent activity.
Police said there had also been an increase in reports of trespassers on rural properties across Queensland.
Detective Inspector Mick Dowie said people are driving on remote areas of large pastoral properties and when challenged by owners or managers, have no permission or a reasonable excuse to be there.
“These people are quite often trespassing for the purposes of hunting and having a person shooting on a property without permission poses a very serious threat to the community,” Detective Inspector Mick Dowie said.
People are reminded trespassing for the purposes of hunting and the unlawful taking of wildlife (including feral pigs) attract significant fines.
“We often find that people committing opportunistic theft when they come across machinery such as pumps, generators and quad bikes and will use the excuse they are only hunting if challenged by the farmer,” Detective Inspector Dowie said.
“These thieves and reckless hunters give legitimate hunters with appropriate approvals a bad name and farmers and producers simply close off their properties to protect themselves and their interests.
“We will prosecute trespassers on rural properties to protect property owners and industry as they have enough on their hands with the current drought conditions.”
Landholders are urged to report trespassers using the Policelink ‘stock and rural crime’ smartphone app and police encourage use of this app to send emails and photographs of offenders and their vehicles, as long as it is safe to do so.
Otherwise anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.