Editorial: Armed rustlers danger to farmers

It can't  be an easy business stealing sheep.

Not that we feel any pity for rustlers - but there must be a lot of time, effort and accomplices involved in scoping out, shooting, dragging, transporting, cutting up and selling someone else's animals.

So much so that there must be a whole chain of people aware of these crimes.

The Daily Post reported yesterday that farmers were being warned about black market meat rings after the shootings of dozens of sheep.

One local farmer had been hit by rustlers six times in the past seven months.

Rotorua Federated Farmers president Neil Heather says there's a big black market for meat.

But there wouldn't be a market without people, be it the middle-men or the end customer, willing to buy their meat from dodgy suppliers.

The fact sheep rustlers are armed adds another dangerous dimension.

As farmer Paddy Lowry asks in our story - what happens when someone disturbs them in the act?

Someone might be happy to get discount meat, no questions asked, but how would they feel the first time someone takes a bullet trying to protect what's theirs?