Following the theft of 38 lambs in the Wareham area, Purbeck Police are appealing for information.
It was reported on Saturday 13th February 2021 that the lambs had been stolen from a field in East Stoke sometime between Monday 19th October and Monday 9th November 2020.
This timeframe briefly coincides with the second national coronavirus lockdown, which began on Thursday 5th November 2020.
Purbeck Police said:
“Recently there has been a theft of a number of lambs from the area of Wareham. These were in a field and have been taken from there. If you have any information regarding this please contact Dorset Police.”
Keeping livestock safe
Dorset Police Rural Crime Team – which was formed in 2016 to tackle crimes like this – urge all owners to check their livestock and perimeter fencing regularly. They also advise:
- Something may have disturbed livestock if they are making more noise than usual
- Ensure that gates are chained and padlocked and that hinges are capped or inverted
- Unused gateways should be blocked with machinery or large tree trunks
- Use ear tags, horn brands, freeze marking or tattooing on livestock so they can be identified if stolen
- Install CCTV in barns and yards – as well as making sure they are locked
- Make fields less easily accessible to vehicles by using ditches, mounds and hedges or installing bollards and removable cattle grids
- Using remote gate alarms and hidden cameras
Contact the police
Anyone who has any information about the lambs should contact Dorset Police on 101 or by emailing 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or on the website www.dorset.police.uk with reference number 55210025934.
Any suspicious activity should be reported to the police. In an emergency, dial 999. Non-emergency crimes can be reported on Dorset Police’s website.
