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A gang of sheep rustlers have been striking at remote farms across the region – and farmers believe crooked shepherds may be responsible.
More than 200 sheep worth thousands of pounds have been snatched over the past six weeks in County Durham. Police say the thieves must have used a dog to round up the animals before they were spirited away, which points the finger at culprits with an expert knowledge of sheep.
Many of the thefts have been from farms within a short distance of the A68 between Darlington and Corbridge, and police believe the road was used as a getaway by the rustlers. On December 21, a total of 85 Suffolk cross teel sheep were stolen from a farm at Stanley Crook, near Crook, County Durham.
Four days later, Bells House Farm at Cornsay, near Lanchester, reported the theft of 40 Suffolk cross lambs.
On January 9, Texel cross ewes in lamb were stolen from Brandon Hall Farm. Ten days later and 30 Suffolk cross were stolen from China Hall Farm, Rowley, near Consett. On January 22, 50 sheep were stolen from a farm at Hunwick, near Bishop Auckland. The animals are worth about £14,500 in total.
Police Inspector Andy McConnell, based at Consett, said "The thieves would have had to use a dog to round up the sheep." He added "Many of the sheep are tagged and could be identified if traced. It shouldn’t be an easy job for the thieves to dispose of the animals and we’d like to hear from anyone who encounters a person trying to sell sheep or lodge them in a field without permission."
Some of the sheep were stolen from Tanners Hall Farm, at Stanley Crook, owned by Alistair Layfield who has farmed there for 25 years, said the use of the dogs and the complexities of selling livestock led him to believe other farmers were involved.
He said "Anyone from the general public cannot just turn up and sell some sheep at auction mart. It all has to be logged down at the trading standards. They are not the easiest things in the world to dispose of. It is anyone’s guess who they are."
Champion breeder Trevor Walton also suspects crooked shepherds of rounding up 14 lambs he kept in a field in Low Willington, near Crook, last October. Mr Walton, 54, a married father-of-one whose sheep were last year voted champions of Stanhope Agricultural Show, said "I cannot see a show competitor stooping so low as to steal them, but the thieves must have had some inside knowledge of where I kept my lambs and how to herd them away."
Inspector McConnell said police would increase patrols in the area and stop any vehicles, such as horseboxes travelling at night, which are suspected of transporting livestock.
Anybody with information should contact Durham Police on 0845 606-0365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Tyne and Wear
NE45
