Cattle theft on the rise in Texas

causing some people to bypass auctions altogether – and steal livestock! in texas last year alone special rangers investigated up to 800 cases… and recovered half a million dollars in lost livestock. the spike in theft is being blamed on the drought. our border reporter angela kocherga… … has a story you’ll see only on abc- seven: s/Fort Davis, Texas After years of drought, life is good again in Fort Davis and other ranching towns. It’s raining and the cows are fat. And those cows are now worth top dollar. That’s led to the rise of what some may think of an old fashioned crime: cattle rustling. In the old west the saying was s/Oscar Medley, Rancher Cattle thieves will be shot and the survivors will be shot again. These days in Texas Special Rangers are more likely to handle the case. s/Robert McKnight, Rancher 13:43:33 Our rangers last year investigated close to 800 cases and recovered half a million dollars in stolen goods. Bobby McKnight is a sixth generation rancher and a member of the Texas Southwest Cattle Raiser’s association which pays for the 30 special rangers. This is what we do and these are our first calf heifers and we’re having a good spring. Those who could held on to their herds during the drought can now get a hefty price: as much as $ 1500 a head, making cattle theft a lucrative crime. s/Angela Kocherga, Brewster County That fence may keep these cattle from roaming but it certainly won’t keep the thieves out and the cattle that’s most vulnerable are those that are closest to major roadways like this one. We are out on our country all the time and we know what’s going on. McKnight keeps a close eye on his heifers which graze away from the highway. But he can’t watch them all the time and that’s what rustlers are counting on. Angela kocherga, abc-7. it’s a big night for local athletes with the 20-15