ABSTRACT
Agriculture is an important contributor to the economies of most countries. This chapter details the economic impact of livestock theft on specific communities and countries and addresses the emotional impact of livestock theft on victims of the crime and the social impact on communities. It notes that rural areas experience a diversity of different crimes, and different rural areas have their own challenges in the prevention of those crimes most prevalent. Crime theory can and should assist crime prevention: the chapter links routine activity theory, crime pattern theory, rational choice theory and buffer zone theory to the livestock perpetrator and indicates the importance of different principles in livestock theft prevention. The importance of guardianship is illustrated, and practical prevention methods, techniques and technology utilised by livestock producers as target hardeners in the prevention of livestock theft are analysed. A practitioner’s perspective brings to the forefront some of the practical measures being utilised in a South African context.
