Five adults were caught stealing chickens from an industrial estate in Warragul last week.
Police were called to Weerong Road around midnight after reports of suspicious cars parked in the area.
Officers located the cars but no one was present so police kept observing the vehicles from a distance.
A short time later police intercepted a van with five adults laying in the rear of the van with 42 stolen chickens.
They were released pending summons.