WE HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT HIGH TECH CRIME THESE DAYS…BUT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS CATTLE RUSTLING CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM IN NEW MEXICO. WHILE THE NUMBERS HERE HAVEN'T SPIKED LIKE THEY HAVE IN OTHER STATES, DALENE HODNETT WITH THE NEW MEXICO FARM AND LIVESTOCK BUREAU SAYS CATTLE THEFT STILL HAPPENS…OFTEN TIMES IN RURAL, ISOLATED AREAS OF THE STATE.
HODNETT SAYS IT CAN TAKE A FEW DAYS BEFORE A RANCHER IS EVEN AWARE THAT SOME OF HIS OR HER CATTLE ARE GONE. SHE SAYS IT'S ONE REASON THE BUREAU APPRECIATES THE STATE'S BRANDING LAWS THAT ALLOW THEM TO IDENTIFY THE LIVESTOCK OWNER.
RECENT REPORTS INDICATE CATTLE RUSTLING IS UP 40-PERCENT FROM A YEAR AGO IN TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA…MOST LIKELY BECAUSE OF AN INCREASE IN CATTLE PRICES.
