Sheep theft warning after two raids in Dorset

Police are on the hunt for sheep rustlers after a couple of high-value raids on farms in Dorset.

Sometime between 12pm on Saturday (21 April) and 1.15pm on Sunday (22 April), 32 Suffolk ewes and 62 lambs were taken from a field in Mill Lane, Wimborne.

The theft follows a similar incident overnight on Tuesday 17 April when 50 in-lamb ewes were stolen from a field in Haywards Lane, Child Okeford.

See also: Fleeced – police failure to tackle sheep rustling exposed

In total, 150 sheep were in the field. The 50 stolen were white-faced Lleyn and black-faced North of England Mules. All were tagged.

© Dorset Police

Officers investigating the thefts said it is possible the thefts are linked. They have urged farmers to check their fields and flocks as the sheep may have been dumped nearby.

Police enquiries

PC Maddy Dysterre-Clark, of Dorset Police, said: “This is the second occasion in a short space of time where a large number of sheep have been stolen and is understandably likely to cause concern in the rural community.

“We are carrying out a number of enquiries into this incident and have been investigating CCTV opportunities.”

Police have appealed to anyone who has any information or who witnessed any suspicious activity in these areas, such as any 4×4 or trailer movements at night, to contact them on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.