Drought-ravaged Australian farmers heading into summer are facing a new and previously unknown threat: water bandits. Police at tiny Gundaroo village near the Australian capital Canberra on Wednesday said they were hunting thieves who used crowbars to crack open water tanks and steal the precious contents. "I came to the tap to get a glass of water and all I got out was mud. I couldn t really believe it had happened," farmer Lindy Hayman told Reuters.

In nearby Bungendore, water has been stolen from village dams and tanks, while 50 kilometers away in Yass police have reports of theft from the citys near-dry river. In the past two weeks, Australia s government has announced more than A$900 million ($682 million) in drought relief as farmers face the driest period for a generation and with the hottest summer months still ahead.

More than 90 percent of the most populous state of New South Wales is in drought, with many farmers enduring five continuous years of below average rainfall.

The area around Gundaroo and the nearby town of Goulburn have been particularly hard-hit, with Goulburn s main dam having run dry. Hayman said she and partner Zed Zawalski lost 20,000 gallons (75,000 litres) from their small Gundaroo olive grove and cattle farm while they were out. Nearby, in the village main street, Kerry Wagstaff said thieves emptied two 8,000 gallon (30,000 litres) water tanks, used to provide water for the house and for their vegetable garden.

"With things the way they are, we are down to asking visiting friends if they really need a shower," Wagstaff said. Police in the regional Goulburn headquarters said they were investigating several incidents of water theft and advised people to lock their water stores as summer draws closer.

"But I think things are not yet that desperate that it s happening a lot and people need to go round stealing water," Acting Inspector Doug Pilkington said. (US$1=A$1.32)
(Por Rob Taylor, Planet Ark, 26/10/2006)