Southland police are trying to trace hundreds of missing sheep. Thieves have taken 320 sheep worth $65,000 from a property at Waimumu, southwest of Gore. READ MORE:* Stock rustling takes shine off a good year for sheep farmers* Rustlers could be jailed for 10 years under new penaltiesFederated Farmers has estimated the cost of theft of livestock to be more than $120 million a year. Rules on livestock rustling were toughened up in March, with rustling being classified as a criminal offence in the criminal code. Under the new laws the maximum penalty for theft of livestock or other animal is seven years imprisonment.

Source: Stuff May 19, 2019 21:30 UTC