Six rural properties targeted as police urge vigilance

Six properties have been targeted in the Tallangatta Valley, Tallangatta South, Allans Flat, Yackandandah, Huon and Mitta in the past 10 days.

In some cases, thousands of dollars worth of equipment has been stolen from locked sheds including chainsaws, pumps, generators, welders and post rammers.

Inspector Paul Hargreaves said thieves had cut padlocks to sheds and said it was positive that people were securing their property.

It's unclear if the thieves are striking during the day or night, but he said they were "moving around".

"They're either in a ute or carrying a trailer as they're taking items of a fair weight," Inspector Hargreaves said.

"To have six such incidents in nine or 10 days is certainly of concern to us."

In some cases residents have been home, in others the thefts haven't been discovered for days.

Properties have been targeted both near main roads and in isolated areas.

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"These items must be offered for sale somewhere, usually for cheap," Inspector Hargreaves said.

"This is where members of the public need to make inquiries to satisfy themselves that the property is legitimate.

"We will hopefully not only process offenders, but you may lose property if its hasn't' been bought legitimately."

People are urged to report suspicious vehicles, and police have a farm security checklist available online.

"It's easy for us to go out and have a look, it's much harder for us to recover the property later," Inspector Hargreaves said.

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