Reports of milk going missing from vats in the Waikato and Coromandel region are alarming farmers.

The Waikato Times reports that more than 600 litres of milk has been stolen in the Waihi and Matamata areas recently, and that farmers say they now fear for their safety.

The report says an anonymous Tairua sharemilker has reported many farmers were ‘sleeping with their guns closer to the bed’.  

However, local police say they have received no complaints about stolen milk.   

Federated Farmers Waikato President, James Houghton, says it is unlikely that the milk has been stolen for the black market.

He says it is more likely the milk is being stolen to feed calves and he urges farmers in the Waikato to exercise greater caution as to who uses their tanker tracks at night, following reports of the  thefts.

Milk vats are usually not secured because tankers need access, and normally farmers rely on the goodwill of the local community, for theft not to happen.

Mr Houghton says the hard part is farmers would like to lock their road gates at night but for many it just isn’t practicable.