Police are appealing for witnesses after 81 lambs were discovered missing from a farm in Kenn near Exeter.
The farmer has been feeding the flock daily and noticed the drop in numbers when he brought the livestock in for shearing on 22 July.
The missing livestock are Suffolks, Charollais and Texels - and crosses between these breeds – and would be considered larger than most commercial lambs; they are not tagged but most of them are marked red, with a smaller number marked with green or black.
Officers are keen to hear from anyone who lives or works in the area and may have seen any suspicious activity, including vehicles such as livestock trailers or lorries, or anyone gathering or moving sheep over the last five or six weeks.
Anyone with information, relevant dashcam footage, CCTV, or who witnessed anything unusual is asked to contact Devon & Cornwall Police on 101 or via the force website, quoting reference 50260193233.
Livestock owners in Devon and Cornwall are encouraged to review their security arrangements and to remain vigilant.
Advice includes:
- Ensuring all sheep are correctly EID tagged and records are up to date
- Using additional visible identification, such as unique spray markings or flock-specific management tags
- Photographing valuable breeding stock and keeping records of any distinctive features
- Regularly checking and maintaining fences, gates and boundary security
- Using robust locks, security chains and anti-lift hinges where appropriate
- Restricting vehicle access to fields, particularly those located close to public roads
- Monitoring livestock regularly and varying visit times where possible
- Keeping accurate flock counts and promptly reporting any discrepancies
- Securing handling equipment, raceways, loading ramps and holding pens when not in use
- Fitting trailers with wheel clamps, hitch locks or tracking devices and parking them in secure locations
- Exercising caution when sharing information online about livestock locations, movements or periods when premises may be unattended
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