Cattle rustling is not a thing of the "old west" or the movies anymore. Present day cattle rustling is on the rise and it includes stealing other farm equipment and property in addition to stealing cattle. Cattle rustling has become such a problem in Missouri that the state is stepping up its preventative efforts.It is primarily the thefts of farm equipment that have spurred the Missouri state government to focus even more effort on cattle theft. According to David A. Lieb’s article for the Associated Press (which can be found at Kansascity.com), Governor Jay Nixon “said Thursday that he was expanding the mission of a cattle theft task force created by his predecessor to also focus on thefts of livestock trailers, agricultural equipment and farm chemicals.
At the Missouri State Fair on Thursday Gov. Nixon described the thefts as ‘“brazen.”’ Yet, despite the apparent problem, state agriculture director Jon Hagler said the cattle theft task force has not met since last year. To improve and coordinate investigative efforts, Hagler said that an expanded Livestock and Farm Protection Task Force will be meeting regularly.
Missouri has a new law on the books that becomes effective on August 28, 2009 that lengthens the sentences that can be given out for “repeat cattle rustlers.” According to Lieb’s story, “The law . . . requires people with prior livestock-theft convictions to serve at least 80 percent of their sentences before being eligible for parole if they are convicted of stealing more than $3,000 worth of livestock.” In 2006, when the original task force was created, a trailer full with stolen calves had a value of up to $12,000 and a 500 pound calf was worth $600.
It remains to be seen if Missouri’s new measures will curb its cattle rustling problem. To read the Associated Press story click here.
Posted: 08/21/09
