A LOCAL farmer will have to re-lay more than 300 metres of fence posts and replace other equipment after thieves ventured on to his property on three separate occasions over the past month.
John Hart has had more than $1000 worth of equipment stolen in the incidents, with 140 steel fence posts, a galvanised gate, two rolls of hinge lock wire, a post driver, fencing tools, and diesel all taken from his Cardiff McAlinden property.
"It is terrible that you can't leave the premises," Mr Hart said.
"I was getting ready to put sheep in there and now I'm going to have to go and do it all again.
"It has never happened here before.
"It has really upset me - I'm working for nothing."
Mr Hart said he was now forced to pack up and move everything between the Cardiff-McAlinden Road property and his other farm.
"I was at the other farm about 15 kilometres away when the equipment was stolen," he said.
"They have been back several times pinching stuff bit by bit.
"I've got an idea it is a hobby farmer - to pinch that kind of stuff they would have to be using it themselves.
"To come and just steal it off someone's property, it's shocking - it's not on.
"The diesel they didn't steal they just left to leak out on to the property."
Senior Sergeant Mike Dean said it was an unfortunate reality people in town could not leave valuables unattended.
"We are investigating it but I can only encourage people to recognise that there are thieves around," he said.
Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact the Collie Police on 9734 6333.