Sheep worth £18,000 stolen in overnight farm raid
© Tim Scrivener Police are appealing for information after thieves stole 135 sheep worth an estimated £18,000 from a farm in Hampshire.
The theft happened sometime between 5pm on Saturday 27 June and 6am on Sunday 28 June on a farm in Hursley, near Winchester, with officers believing the flock was taken overnight.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has launched an investigation and is urging anyone who saw suspicious vehicles or activity in the Hursley area during that time to come forward.
See also: Analysis: Rural crime – down overall, but hotspots persist
Image of the sheep stolen from the Hursley area © Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police
The theft comes as NFU Mutual warns livestock crime is becoming increasingly organised.
The insurer’s Rural Crime Report shows the cost of livestock theft across the UK rose by almost 30% to an estimated £4.5m in 2025, often involving large-scale raids on farms.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101, quoting reference 44260305948, or report it online via Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s existing case reporting service.