Latest news with #animaltheft
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Police appeal over Shetland pony foal stolen near Truro
Police are appealing for information to help safely return a two-month-old Shetland which was stolen from the Truro area last a female chestnut skewbald Shetland pony, was taken between 11 and 12 July from farmland near Lucy Wyatt, Devon and Cornwall Police's equine crime lead, said Lucy's owner was "understandably distraught". "At this age, foals are reliant on their mother's milk and we are fearing for Lucy's safety," she said. PC Wyatt said the force wanted to hear from anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity or vehicles in the area. "At her age and size, it is possible that Lucy could fit in a vehicle," she said."We don't have any more information at this time about the time or date that Lucy was taken but it would have required someone to enter the field and take hold of Lucy before removing her."Anyone with information should contact police, she said."Equally, if you have Lucy, please bring her home."
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Yahoo
Farm animal thefts linked to organised crime
More than 3,000 animals were reported as stolen in Northern Ireland between 2019 and 2024 in a pattern that is being linked to organised crime. New figures obtained by BBC News NI show that the vast majority were farm animals such as sheep and cattle. Most of the reported thefts took place in rural council areas like Mid Ulster and Causeway Coast and Glens. Police said the high value of livestock suggests that some of the cases will have a link to "organised crime and cross-border criminality". And an Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) representative said the amount of planning involved in stealing large numbers of animals suggests a link to organised crime. PSNI Rural and Wildlife Crime lead, Superintendent Johnston McDowell, said police had been working to decrease the number of animal thefts and in some cases were working alongside An Garda Síochána in the Republic of Ireland. John McCleneghan from the UFU told BBC News NI that livestock theft is something they hear about a lot. "When you look at some of the cases of dozens of cattle or sheep being taken, that takes planning, so that alone is evidence of some form of organised crime being involved. "The reality is that as the value of livestock has increased in recent years, the value to the criminal and the incentive to the criminal has also increased." He added: "That's why we would say to farmers to take all the steps they can in terms of security to try act as a deterrent, to protect their livestock, so things like tags on their animals locks on gates, regular checks and things like that, CCTV or tracking devices. "But we appreciate that all this is also an added cost and financial burden to the farmer in already tough times." In January 2024, 50 lambs were stolen near the village of Park in Londonderry in what farmer Dermot Mullan said was a "well-planned operation" that would cost him up to £7,000. "I received a call from my brother that the sheep weren't in the field, but I honestly just thought they had escaped", he said. Later that day the scale of the theft would become apparent to Dermot and his family. He said: "I was in shock, it took a while to sink in, for 50 sheep to be taken in one go without detection would take a lot of planning. "They came in the middle of the night, it was very stormy so we wouldn't have heard much, they must have rounded the sheep up and had a large trailer waiting and away they went." Dermot said the whole incident has had a huge impact on his family. "It's been tough, it's a big financial loss, but there is also an impact on your mental health, not just on me but on the whole family. "Yes you have the animals to make money, but you get attached to them, especially with the lambs, my two sons looked after them on a Saturday and things like that, so it was a real loss." Dermot said the figures on the overall number of animal thefts across Northern Ireland are "shocking". He said: "Unfortunately, I know of other farmers who have had livestock stolen, it happens lot. "But a lot of them are men who don't want to come forward and talk about it or in some cases to even report it, for a whole lot of reasons like fear and stigma, but we need to shine light on this issue, because it can have a devastating effect on people" BBC News NI previously reported that that the Mid Ulster farming community were left "traumatised" following a string of burglaries related to agricultural equipment last year. The cost of rural crime in Northern Ireland decreased last year, according to new figures from the rural insurer National Farmers Union (NFU) Mutual. It fell by 9% to an estimated £1.8m in 2024 compared to 2023, in what NFU said is a result of co-ordinated action against organised and serious crime in the countryside. But the new report suggests that livestock theft remained high across the UK at an estimated cost of £3.4m in 2024. The PSNI said there was no evidence to suggest that there had been an upsurge in animals being actively targeted. But Supt McDowell gave some advice to farmers and other animal owners. He said they should: close and lock yard gates at night to deter drive-through thieves lock outbuildings at night that hold livestock check lighting, alarms and cameras are working microchip or tag animals to help with recovery if they do get stolen In a statement the Department of Agriculture said it took the theft of farm animals "very seriously". A department spokesperson added: "Rural crime, in particular the theft of farmed animals, is a direct threat to the livelihood of our farmers and to the integrity of the traceability system which is vital in providing assurance on the safety, integrity and quality of our food." Farming community 'traumatised' after burglaries Farmer describes theft of 50 lambs as 'shocking'
BBC News
15-06-2025
- BBC News
Farm animal thefts in Northern Ireland linked to organised crime
More than 3,000 animals were reported as stolen in Northern Ireland between 2019 and 2024 in a pattern that is being linked to organised figures obtained by BBC News NI show that the vast majority were farm animals such as sheep and of the reported thefts took place in rural council areas like Mid Ulster and Causeway Coast and say the high value of livestock suggests that some of the cases will have a link to "organised crime and cross-border criminality".And an Ulster Farmers' Union representative says the amount of planning involved in stealing large numbers of animals suggests a link to organised crime. PSNI Rural and Wildlife Crime lead, Superintendent Johnston McDowell, said police had been working to decrease the number of animal thefts and in some cases were working alongside An Garda Síochána in the Republic of Ireland. 'They are more than just livestock' John McCleneghan is from the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU). He says livestock theft is something they hear about a said: "When you look at some of the cases of dozens of cattle or sheep being taken, that takes planning, so that alone is evidence of some form of organised crime being involved."The reality is that as the value of livestock has increased in recent years, the value to the criminal and the incentive to the criminal has also increased."He added: "That's why we would say to farmers to take all the steps they can in terms of security to try act as a deterrent, to protect their livestock, so things like tags on their animals locks on gates, regular checks and things like that, CCTV or tracking devices."But we appreciate that all this is also an added cost and financial burden to the farmer in already tough times." In January 2024, 50 lambs were stolen near the village of Park in Londonderry in what farmer Dermot Mullan said was a "well-planned operation" that would cost him up to £7,000."I received a call from my brother that the sheep weren't in the field, but I honestly just thought they had escaped", he that day the scale of the theft would become apparent to Dermot and his said: "I was in shock, it took a while to sink in, for 50 sheep to be taken in one go without detection would take a lot of planning."They came in the middle of the night, it was very stormy so we wouldn't have heard much, they must have rounded the sheep up and had a large trailer waiting and away they went."Dermot says the whole incident has had a huge impact on his family."It's been tough, it's a big financial loss, but there is also an impact on your mental health, not just on me but on the whole family. "Yes you have the animals to make money, but you get attached to them, especially with the lambs, my two sons looked after them on a Saturday and things like that, so it was a real loss."Dermot says the figures on the overall number of animal thefts across Northern Ireland are "shocking".He said: "Unfortunately, I know of other farmers who have had livestock stolen, it happens lot."But a lot of them are men who don't want to come forward and talk about it or in some cases to even report it, for a whole lot of reasons like fear and stigma, but we need to shine light on this issue, because it can have a devastating effect on people" BBC News NI previously reported that that the Mid Ulster farming community were left "traumatised" following a string of burglaries related to agricultural equipment last cost of rural crime in Northern Ireland decreased last year, according to new figures from the rural insurer National Farmers Union (NFU) fell by 9% to an estimated £1.8m in 2024 compared to 2023, in what NFU says is a result of co-ordinated action against organised and serious crime in the the new report says that livestock theft remained high across the UK at an estimated cost of £3.4m in 2024. Security measures The PSNI said there was no evidence to suggest that there had been an upsurge in animals being actively Supt McDowell gave some advice to farmers and other animal owners. He said they should:close and lock yard gates at night to deter drive-through thieveslock outbuildings at night that hold livestockcheck lighting, alarms and cameras are workingmicrochip or tag animals to help with recovery if they do get stolenIn a statement the Department of Agriculture said it took the theft of farm animals "very seriously".A department spokesperson added: "Rural crime, in particular the theft of farmed animals, is a direct threat to the livelihood of our farmers and to the integrity of the traceability system which is vital in providing assurance on the safety, integrity and quality of our food."
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Vancouver feed store seeks help finding stolen baby goats, rabbit
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A Vancouver feed store is urging community members to help them find their missing animals after two baby goats and a baby rabbit were stolen over Memorial Day weekend. In a Monday morning Facebook post, Orchards Feed said a man cut through three deadbolts and a front gate, before breaking into the goat pen and stealing the two baby goats one at a time. In an updated post, the store shared that a baby rabbit was also taken. Now, the shop's owners are pleading with the community to help return the animals. 'This is heartbreaking. We need to find them before they are sold, or worse,' the store wrote on Facebook. 'We bottle-fed these since day 2 and they are our family, and the community has adopted them as well. We started the animal farm to help kids to the elderly with a bit of love and happiness from our animals.' With help from security footage, the store said they have the suspect's car information, including the license plate, along with images of the suspect carrying a goat at the North Rosewood Avenue property. While on the lookout for the animals, the feed store said they have contacted nearby businesses for their camera footage in hopes of finding the suspect. 'I'm putting everyone on blast now as I want people to know — we see you — our community sees you. We will prosecute to the highest level we can — but we will also be staying on premises and will protect our property with force,' Orchards Feed wrote. 'We are a family-owned store who is trying to improve our community.' In an interview with KOIN 6 News, Orchards Feed General Manager Matthew Beckley said the baby goats have special dietary needs, emphasizing the need to bring them back to the store. PDX travelers: No Real ID, no problem so far The suspect 'knew what they were doing,' according to Beckley. 'They came in and out within 13 minutes, breaking all the different locks trying to get in and took (the goats) one by one out.' Beckley says the community reaction to the theft has been 'anger.' 'People are really upset, and we've had a lot of people reach out to us and say that they'll try to take care of them. We've let them know we're letting police handle it,' Beckley said. 'We do appreciate everybody who is supportive of us. We do have a lot of staff crying. We've raised these guys from day one, they're bottle-fed babies because they were rejected form their mother, so we've really grown accustomed to them, our customers love them.' KOIN 6 News has reached out to Clark County authorities. This story will be updated if we receive a response. This is a developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Vancouver feed store seeks help finding stolen baby goats, rabbit
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A Vancouver feed store is urging community members to help them find their missing animals after two baby goats and a baby rabbit were stolen over Memorial Day weekend. In a Monday morning Facebook post, Orchards Feed said a man cut through three deadbolts and a front gate, before breaking into the goat pen and stealing the two baby goats one at a time. In an updated post, the store shared that a baby rabbit was also taken. Now, the shop's owners are pleading with the community to help return the animals. 'This is heartbreaking. We need to find them before they are sold, or worse,' the store wrote on Facebook. 'We bottle-fed these since day 2 and they are our family, and the community has adopted them as well. We started the animal farm to help kids to the elderly with a bit of love and happiness from our animals.' With help from security footage, the store said they have the suspect's car information, including the license plate, along with images of the suspect carrying a goat at the North Rosewood Avenue property. While on the lookout for the animals, the feed store said they have contacted nearby businesses for their camera footage in hopes of finding the suspect. 'I'm putting everyone on blast now as I want people to know — we see you — our community sees you. We will prosecute to the highest level we can — but we will also be staying on premises and will protect our property with force,' Orchards Feed wrote. 'We are a family-owned store who is trying to improve our community.' In an interview with KOIN 6 News, Orchards Feed General Manager Matthew Beckley said the baby goats have special dietary needs, emphasizing the need to bring them back to the store. PDX travelers: No Real ID, no problem so far The suspect 'knew what they were doing,' according to Beckley. 'They came in and out within 13 minutes, breaking all the different locks trying to get in and took (the goats) one by one out.' Beckley says the community reaction to the theft has been 'anger.' 'People are really upset, and we've had a lot of people reach out to us and say that they'll try to take care of them. We've let them know we're letting police handle it,' Beckley said. 'We do appreciate everybody who is supportive of us. We do have a lot of staff crying. We've raised these guys from day one, they're bottle-fed babies because they were rejected form their mother, so we've really grown accustomed to them, our customers love them.' KOIN 6 News has reached out to Clark County authorities. This story will be updated if we receive a response. This is a developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
