Definition of cattle rustling

rustling is a term whose etymological root is found in the language Latin: abigeātus. The concept is used in the American continent with reference to the crime consisting of steal cattle.

Cattle rustling is criminalized in various penal codes. The action implies the abduction of cows, sheep, horses or other animals that are owned by a person. This crime is frequent in nations that have a developed livestock activity, since the animals can have a lot of value.

Cattle rustling was a difficult scourge to combat in the XIX century. Over the years, various security mechanisms began to be put in place that helped minimize cattle theft. Mexico, Argentina Y Uruguay are some of the countries which, due to their geographical characteristics and their economic activities, suffer from cattle rustling.

The construction of ditches either pits that make it difficult to transfer animals beyond the limits of the field, the use of vehicles to carry out a patrol and even the use of weapons for defensive or dissuasive purposes are some of the actions that are usually used to fight cattle rustling. In some cases, even appeal to the DNA analysis to determine if meat leaving a slaughterhouse or entering a butcher shop is stolen.

The subject who commits rustling is designated as rustler. It should be noted that cattle rustling is also known rustling, a term that alludes to the subtraction of quadrupeds. The rustlertherefore, is the one who carries out the cattle rustling.

One of the characteristics of rustling that first jumps out at you is the areas chosen by the thieves: since it is a crime in which the violence and the transfer of very heavy animals, it is normal that the objective is the most isolated fields, those that are less exposed to surveillance. For example, rustlers tend to avoid farms that are located on the side of a road, since those whose access is more complicated, the least communicated, are convenient for them.

On the other hand, it is important to note that rustling is not practiced individually, or at least it is not the most common; This particular type of theft would be almost impracticable for a single person, since there are several steps to overcome and the requirements to carry out the robbery. worked dirty successfully:

* have a suitable vehicle: This is the first and most important point, since the truck must be prepared to travel on rural roads, but also have the space and power to move the burden of stolen animals or products, once the cattle rustling has ended;

* carry the necessary tools: in this case, everything depends on the characteristics of the property in which the thief wants to break into and the way in which he has decided to carry out the theft. If he land it is protected by a fence, so it will be necessary to cut it and open a hole large enough to get the animals out or even to enter with the vehicle, for example;

* knowledge and skills: rustling does not always consist of stealing animals, but rather some gangs butcher and skin the animals on the spot, and then they take the cuts to sell them clandestinely. Needless to say, this crime it requires a very particular skill and level of concentration, to act with precision and without wasting a single second;

* arrangements with local authorities: unfortunate as it may seem, it is known that in many of these stories the police collude with the criminals, and that is the reason why cattle rustling can proliferate despite the complaints of the victims.