Farmers call on public to help catch rustlers after Shropshire lambs theft

The plea for local people to be vigilant at a time when lambs are due to go to market follows the theft of a flock worth thousands of pounds from a field in Corvedale.

Shropshire NFU chairman David Mills, a poultry farmer from nearby Craven Arms, said he felt sorry for the victim. "These criminals are playing with our livelihood," he said. "A small farmer could not afford to lose that amount of stock."

Police are urging rural residents to be on their guard and report the registration numbers of any suspicious vehicles spotted around farms.

Lisa Thomas, a community support officer for West Mercia Police, issued an alert to Craven Arms Safer Neighbourhood Team.

She said: "We have had reports that several dozen have been taken from a field in the Corvedale. They are worth at least £80 a lamb.

"If you live in a rural area, or are just driving through, please be alert for any activity involving lambs being loaded into trailers.

"This offence is believed to occur during both day and night time hours. They are that brazen."

Mr Mills said: "Police are very keen on raising awareness and neighbours keeping an eye on neighbours. That's all we can do. It's very sad."

He added: "You can't secure everything. Livestock in their natural habitat need room to roam around and if someone goes in with a dog and herds them up and takes them away then it's very difficult to monitor.

"All sheep are pretty well tagged now but to certain people it's very easy to take the tag out and put their own tag in. We can't put microchips in them like cats and dogs because they can move around and it could end up in the meat."

He said livestock thefts had a devastating impact on farmers who were struggling to make a living in the tough financial climate.

"Each time you claim, your insurance premium goes up," he said. "These criminals are playing with our livelihood."

Oliver Cartwright, Shropshire NFU spokesman, said: "The NFU would urge people to continue to be vigilant in rural areas, join Farmwatch schemes and keep an eye out for suspicious people or vehicles.

"The rural community works closely with the police through Farmwatch and other schemes and we would urge people to report anything unusual to officers."