Thieves Target Delaware County Rancher's Cattle

Cattle is selling at record prices, making cattle attractive for thieves which is driving up beef prices at the grocery store.

Anyone convicted of stealing livestock faces a seven to ten year sentence for each animal they steal, but with prices so high they're still taking the chance anyway.

A Delaware County rancher is the latest victim. Cattle thieves pulled right up to rancher David Duncan's property near Oaks in Delaware County and cut the fence.

"Here and down there. And just took out everything. There's a couple of wooden posts that was in there,” Duncan said.

The thieves took a bull and a breeding cow. With cattle prices so high, the two are worth well over $5,000 dollars.

"It gives you a sick feeling, uncomfortable feeling you know. Just like someone would break into your house and you were there,” said Duncan.

So far this year, $2.5 million worth of cattle and equipment have been stolen in Oklahoma, and that's just what's been reported to the state agriculture department, not including what other departments are investigating.

Both of Duncan's livestock had the D.L.D. brand.

"It's going to be located high on the right front shoulder,” Duncan said.

State investigators say 90 percent of their cattle theft cases are related to addiction, especially meth.

"You know I'm not the judge. I prayed for them yesterday, on Sunday, I prayed for them,” Duncan said. “Prayed to the Lord that they would have a better situation in their life maybe, in their future, you know."

Not only is it a loss for Duncan now, it's also a loss in future calves, which means future earnings.

"Breeding bull, the price of cattle, would be awful expensive to replace, so we have to have a bull replaced and we're going to be short a calf next year also you know,” he said.

Duncan hopes someone spots the brands and wants other ranchers to be on the lookout for any suspicious vehicles so they can avoid being a victim of cattle thieves.