79 sheep have been stolen from a farm located on the moors of North Yorkshire. 41 ewes and 38 lambs have gone missing from open moorland.
The farmer has contacted farms in the area but the sheep have yet to be located.
Inspector Matt Hagen of the force’s Rural Taskforce said:
“Farmers are doing their best to make a living and keep food on our tables in these difficult times – so having livestock stolen is the last thing they need.
Livestock theft can be devastating for farmers and their businesses, as well as causing unnecessary suffering to animals.
“We take all reports extremely seriously as we work to keep these criminals away from North Yorkshire’s farms.”
Anyone with information about the sheep – particularly if they are found in a different location or offered for sale – is asked to contact North Yorkshire police.
Over 100 lambs stolen in Cumbria
A farmer in Cumbria has seen over 100 lambs stolen from his farm in another incident of livestock theft which has plagued UK farmers this year.
The theft occurred in the Penruddock area of Penrith between September 3 and September 12 according to Cumbria Police.
105 Texel-cross lambs were stolen from a farm in the area, with the tag number being UK108296.
To deter livestock thieves, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) advises farmers to:
- Padlock field gates;
- Ensure stock is clearly marked and records are up to date;
- When possible graze livestock in fields away from roads;
- 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;
- Ask neighbours to report any sightings of unusual vehicles loading sheep;
- Join a FarmWatch scheme.
Figures have shown that the costs of rural crime have reached an eight-year high in the UK – totalling £54 million in 2019.
Livestock theft was also shown to have increased last year, with the cost going up 9% to £3 million.
