A farmer in Northern Ireland was left particularly upset after six newborn lambs were stolen from his farm along with two in-lamb ewes.Â
The theft is believed to have occurred sometime on Monday evening, January 15, between 7pm and 10pm on a farm near the border of counties Down and Armagh in the Bandbridge area.
According to the PSNI, the alleged theft involved people breaking into a premises and stealing the newborn lambs from beside their mothers.
The lambs that were taken are understood to be extremely young, varying in age from three-days-old to as little as eight hours.
As well as the lambs, the thieves are believed to have taken two ewes from a nearby field which are due to lamb in the coming weeks.
The PSNI is appealing for anyone with information on the incident, which took place on Lurgan road, Banbridge nearby the junction of Broken Bridge Road to contact them.
Cattle theft in Co. Armagh
The news of this most recent livestock theft in Northern Ireland, follows on from the theft of a number of cattle from a farm in Co. Armagh last week.
It is believed that a total of 16 cattle were stolen from a farm situated along Barkers Road in the Newtownhamilton area.
The cattle were said to have been taken at sometime between Wednesday, January 11 and Friday, January 13.
Enquiries are continuing in the investigation and the PSNI are asking for anyone with information to contact the Newtownhamilton station.
It has been reported that five animals have since been located close to 15km away away from the farm, but the family have made renewed appeal for anyone with information on the remaining 11 animals to come forward.