SYDNEY (AFP) — An Australian abattoir has beefed up security because thieves in its slaughterhouse were stealing cattle gallstones, which are worth almost their weight in gold, a report said Friday.
The Borthwicks Meatworks in Queensland state will cut the pockets off its employees' overalls and conduct random searches to protect the gallstones, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
It said the gallstones were highly prized in Asian herbal medicine and could fetch up to 22,000 dollars (19,400 US) a kilogram. Gold is fetching around 29,000 dollars a kilogram.
Plans to tighten security come after former abattoir worker Shem John West, 37, was this week fined more than 8,000 dollars and given a three-month suspended jail sentence for stealing gallstones.
Mackay Magistrates Court was told that West stole more than 10,000 dollars worth of gallstones from the abattoir between January 2005 and July this year, ABC radio said.
It said another worker was fined 500 dollars in August for the same offence.
Borthwicks managing director Simon Stahl said employees would face increased security measures, including searches of their boots.
"There's more checking maybe where gallstones can be placed or hidden, (we'll) just be doing a little bit more surveillance on that area," Stahl said.
"We'll eliminate the pockets on their clothing for a start, which helps."
Police charged the two men after Borthwicks reported a drop in the number of stones collected at the abattoir.
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