Australian police alert to oyster rustling: official

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

SYDNEY (AFP) — As Australians prepare to heap their tables with fresh seafood for Christmas, police on Monday said they have been trained to crack down on oyster theft.

Farmers have warned of an increase in oyster rustling during the summer harvest period, prompting police in New South Wales state to attempt to reduce the theft of the succulent delicacy.

"We've done some training up there at Port Macquarie and Forster with the fisheries department," a police spokesman said in reference to two oyster producing areas.

Police will increase surveillance on oyster beds as well as the likely outlets for the stolen goods such as roadside vendors, he said.

Growers said while many farmers did not report the crime, oyster theft was a growing problem and a...