19 in-lamb ewes worth £3,000 stolen
© Tim Scrivener Nineteen sheep worth thousands of pounds have been stolen from a farm in Aberdeenshire.
The in-lamb ewes were taken from Berryleas, near Fordyce in Banff, between 5 December and 22 January.
Police Scotland said the English Mules were valued at £3,000.
PC Cook, the investigating officer, said: “The theft of such a large number of sheep would have required planning and the use of vehicles to transport the animals away from the area.”
See also: What to do if you’re a victim of… sheep rustling
Officers have appealed to the public to report anyone or anything suspicious seen around the time the sheep were stolen.
“I would urge people to be extra vigilant and take measures and precautions to protect your property,” he added.
“We take every opportunity to share knowledge and information with officers across the force area to minimise and prevent the number of crimes that take place.”
Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number CF0019140121. Information can also be given anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Theft figures
Livestock rustling remains one of the costliest crimes for British farmers after vehicle and machinery theft, NFU Mutual says.
Farm animals worth an estimated £2.3m in claims were stolen from UK farms last year, according to the latest figures from the rural insurer.
Five tips to prevent sheep rustling
Modern livestock thieves scout the countryside for targets and come equipped to steal with large vehicles.
Protecting flocks requires increasingly sophisticated measures. To deter livestock thieves, NFU Mutual advises farmers to:
- Ensure stock is clearly marked and records are up to date
- Graze livestock in fields away from roads when possible
- Check stock regularly, and vary times of feeding/check-ups
- Consider a high-tech marking system, such as TecTracer, which puts thousands of coded microdot markers into a sheep’s fleece
- Join a Farm or Rural Watch scheme to share information about rural crime in your area.