Three men have been arrested for the alleged theft of 306 head of cattle worth $250,000.
Western Australian Police alleged the operation took place in October 2022 and involved the unauthorized gathering of livestock from an isolated station in the northern part of the state.
“It is alleged that the accused persons were responsible for organizing and completing an unauthorized gathering of 306 head of cattle transported by truck from Louisa Downs to the Northern Territory,” a police statement read.
Three men have been charged with the alleged theft of 306 cows, worth approximately $250,000, in October 2022 (file image)
‘It is further alleged that a camp was set up at the Louisa Downs Pastoral Aboriginal Corporation station and earth-moving machinery was used to grade a road to an area at the neighboring Mount Pierre Pastoral Aboriginal Corporation station.
‘A portable set of cattle pens was erected at this location to facilitate gathering in this area.
“No permits were requested or granted to gather cattle at Mount Pierre Station.”
«Between October 12 and 24, 2022, one of the accused men facilitated a meeting using two helicopters and a ground team, which used buggies to hunt bulls.
“The 306 cattle were gathered at the Mount Pierre Station and then trucked to a set of cattle pens and tagged as coming from Louisa Downs.”
About 306 head of cattle were allegedly stolen from Louisa Downs in northern Washington.
According to police, in January this year, Northern Territory Police executed an extraterritorial search warrant at a property on the Adelaide River at the request of the WA Rural Crime Team.
“Rural crime team agents were able to identify that some of the livestock had been sold and exported,” they added.
‘The average price of cattle sold at that time was $827.09 per head.
Multiplied by 306 head of cattle stolen, the alleged theft amounted to $253,089.54.
‘Some of the proceeds from the livestock sale were allegedly deposited into various accounts of the defendants over several months.
On April 16, a 42-year-old man from the Northern Territory, a 41-year-old man and a 39-year-old man from Fitzroy Crossing were charged with robbery, police said.
The 42-year-old is due to appear at Fitzroy Crossing Magistrates Court on July 9 and the other two are due to appear on May 14.
A man allegedly rounded up cattle with a helicopter (file image) while a ground team used buggies to catch bulls.