South East: Around 40 sheep taken leaving farmer worried about their welfare and financial hit
22nd August 2024
Around 40 sheep were stolen from a farm in the South East, leaving the farmer “heartbroken”.
Suffolk/Hampshire cross lambs were among those taken from James Burns’s field in Fareham, ITV News reported.
The incident happened between 9pm on 10th August and 2pm the next day.
The farmer confirmed that electric fencing was cut at the farm in Brownwich Lane, and it is thought the sheep were led down a footpath to a nearby carpark.
Work on new breed lost
Mr Burns told ITV News: “You’re stressed to where they have gone and what’s happened to them and the welfare of them.
“That’s why we spend so long looking for them. You just get worried and the financial hit it will have on the farm as well.
“And the work you have put into getting your new breeding sheep that have gone as well.”
The sheep were all marked with JB sprayed in green and a purple dot on their necks.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101, quoting the crime number 44240345688.
Livestock theft remained high last year, at an estimated cost of £2.7m across the UK.
Read more rural crime news.
