90 lambs stolen from Scottish farm as UK sees rise in livestock crime

90 Suffolk Cross lambs were stolen from the farm as farmers across the UK continue to tackle the increasing amount of livestock crime
90 Suffolk Cross lambs were stolen from the farm as farmers across the UK continue to tackle the increasing amount of livestock crime

Ninety lambs have been stolen from a North-east Scottish farm, and police are now appealing for witnesses as farmers across the UK experience heavy losses due to a creeping wave of livestock crime.

The Suffolk Cross lambs were stolen between 10pm on Saturday, September 9 and 3pm on Friday, September 22, in a field beside Balnamoon Farm, Crossroads, Keith.

The livestock is valued at a low four-figure sum.

Inspector Neil Campbell said those responsible would have known what they were doing, would likely have used trained dogs to gather the sheep and used a large vehicle, possibly twin decked to remove them from the field.

He said: "I would appeal to local farmers and those further afield to be extra vigilant with their livestock and ask that anyone who may have been in the area and saw any unusual activity should contact the police immediately."

Livestock crime

Attacks on livestock in the UK is becoming 'more and more of a problem' as rural police stations face closure, according to a report.

The cost of rural crime in the UK reached £42.5m in 2015 and farming unions across the UK have asked the government to increase funding to help fight the rise in incidents.

More than 1,000 rural police stations in the UK closed between 2000 and 2012, directly impacting the level of surveillance.

It is thought that many stolen livestock are destined for the illegal meat trade.

September livestock crimes

In September alone, there has been four prominent livestock crime cases with a combined total of over 300 animals missing.

On 19 September, sheep rustlers stole 14 sheep and 22 lambs from a farm in North Yorkshire.

On 13 September, a farmer took to social media to express her horror when she found out that 178 of his pigs were stolen.

Sheep rustlers struck North Yorkshire twice in two separate incidents on the weekend of the 9 and 10 September.

On the 2 September, rustlers stole more than 100 sheep from two farms in Powys, Wales.

'Soft target'

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has previously warned that farmers should not be seen as a 'soft target' for criminals.

The NFU said that the result is an increasing fear of crime in rural areas and significantly lower satisfaction levels in the police than the national average.

The NFU, in its report, has found there is no standard protocol across police forces for combatting rural crime, with some forces not even treating rural crime as serious crime.

Anyone who has recently been offered any Suffolk Cross lambs for sale or is aware of their whereabouts should contact Police Scotland on 101, using reference 0276660917, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you wish to remain anonymous.