Officers attached to the Orana Mid-Western Police District charged the 29-year-old man on February 21, following the theft which occurred in mid 2019.

"In early July 2019 police attached to the Murrumbidgee Police District received a report relating to the theft of 41 bales of rice straw," State Rural Crime Co-ordinator Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside said.

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"Arrangements were made for the 29-year-old to collect the bales of straw from a Leeton property, and deliver the it to a Deer Vale address west of Dorrigo, west of Coffs Harbour.

"The 29-year-old man allegedly travelled to the Leeton address on the May 30 in a Freightliner Argosy prime mover, towing a flat deck semi-trailer and collected the fodder.

"Police will allege that the rice straw was collected by the man and he never delivered to the Deer Vale address."

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Detective Insp Whiteside said, then on June 28, 2019, the prime mover was repossessed west of Warwick in Queensland for matters not related to this police investigation.

"Over the following months significant investigations took place which resulted in the man being charged on February 21, 2020 by officers attached to Gilgandra Police Station," he said.

The man is now due to appear in Griffith Local Court in April on charges of larceny as a bailee.

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"The straw has not been located and is valued at approximately $3000," Detective Insp Whiteside said.

He said this investigation highlighted the commitment of police in addressing rural crime related matters not only in their area, but across a number of police districts.

If you have any information about rural crime contact your local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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