Victorian police are appealing for public help to recover 1115 sheep stolen from a farm, the third livestock theft at the property in less than two years.

Combined, thieves have stolen more than 1700 sheep from the farm at Lexton in the state’s east, leaving the farmer $175,000 out of pocket.

Detectives are treating the thefts as a targeted and coordinated crime wave.

Investigators believe the latest theft happened between Tuesday, February 25 and Friday, March 28.

Among the 1115 merino sheep stolen, all of which had electronic ear tags, were ewes, mixed sex and unshorn, worth $130,000.

Police say the theft involved substantial planning, and the use of a large livestock transport vehicle would have been required to move the stock.

“This was not a random act – we believe this was a carefully coordinated theft that has left a local farmer significantly out of pocket,” said Detective Senior Constable Greg Broom.

“Moving this volume of stock requires planning, knowledge, and resources.”

The previous two thefts took place some time from July 23 to September 19, 2023, and between November 4 and November 6, 2023.

Police say the same offenders may be responsible for all three thefts.

Officers are appealing to anyone who may have information about the thefts, or who observed suspicious activity in the Lexton area during February and March, to come forward.

Detectives are seeking information about the following: sightings of suspicious vehicles or unusual livestock movements in the area; increases in livestock holdings of fine wool merino sheep; sales of low micron fine merino wool by producers not usually associated with this product or volume; suspicious behaviour involving the retagging of sheep or large purchases of electronic ear tags; livestock consignments inconsistent with a vendor’s usual stock; enquiries into pastoral land leasing for sheep agistment.