Twenty-one pigs stolen from North Yorkshire farm

Attacks on livestock in the UK is becoming 'more and more of a problem' (Stock photo)
Attacks on livestock in the UK is becoming 'more and more of a problem' (Stock photo)

Twenty-one pigs have been stolen from a farm in North Yorkshire, with each pig worth between £46-£68 each.

North Yorkshire Police have now launched an investigation after they received a report of the theft from the farm in Odgoodby, in Thirsk.

The pigs are valued at between £46 to £68 each. They are believed to have been taken from sheds at the property some time between September 4 and November 9, say police.

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.

The NFU has previously warned that farmers should not be seen as a 'soft target' for criminals.

It 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.

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

Anyone who has any information which could assist the investigation is asked to contact North Yorkshire police on 101, select option 1 and pass the information to the Force Control Room, quoting reference number 12170210966.