64 sheep stolen near St Columb: police appeal for witnesses

If you farm sheep anywhere near the mid-Cornwall spine road, this is the week to walk your fences. Sixty-four ewes and lambs have gone from land near the Halloon Roundabout, taken in a single evening, and police want to hear from anyone who was passing.

The theft happened on land between St Columb and Indian Queens, close to the roundabout where the A30 and A39 traffic meets. Devon & Cornwall Police believe the animals were taken between 3.00pm and 9.50pm on Saturday 18 July.

Most of the stolen flock are Texel-cross-Roussin sheep, with a small number of Poll Dorsets and North Country Mules among them.

What police are asking for

Officers want to hear from anyone who was in the area during those hours and saw anything that stood out. That includes livestock trailers or lorries, or anyone gathering or moving sheep. They are also keen to trace a blue hatchback car reported to have been in the area at the time.

Anyone with information, dashcam footage, CCTV, or who saw something unusual can contact police on 101 or through the Devon & Cornwall Police website, quoting reference 50260189691.

PC Lucy Wyatt, Rural Affairs Officer for Devon & Cornwall Police, said the impact of these crimes runs beyond the balance sheet. “The theft of livestock can have a significant financial and emotional impact on farming families and rural businesses. We would urge anyone who notices suspicious activity involving livestock, trailers or vehicles in rural areas to report it to police as soon as possible.”

Lucy added that farmers are not powerless while the investigation runs. “While offenders are responsible for these crimes, there are practical measures that can help strengthen security and assist in identifying and recovering stolen animals. By working together and remaining vigilant, we can help protect our rural communities and make it more difficult for criminals to operate.”

How to protect your flock

Livestock owners are being asked to review their security and stay alert. The advice from police includes:

• Ensuring all sheep are correctly EID tagged and records are up to date
• Using additional visible identification, such as unique spray markings or flock-specific management tags
• Photographing valuable breeding stock and keeping records of any distinctive features
• Regularly checking and maintaining fences, gates and boundary security
• Using robust locks, security chains and anti-lift hinges where appropriate
• Restricting vehicle access to fields, particularly those close to public roads
• Monitoring livestock regularly and varying visit times where possible
• Keeping accurate flock counts and reporting any discrepancies promptly
• Securing handling equipment, raceways, loading ramps and holding pens when not in use
• Fitting trailers with wheel clamps, hitch locks or tracking devices, and parking them in secure locations
• Being careful when sharing information online about livestock locations, movements or times when premises may be unattended

Police are also pointing owners towards their free alert service. You can sign up to Devon & Cornwall Police Community Messaging for the latest news and crime prevention advice.

Sixty-four animals is a large number to move without being seen. Somebody, somewhere, drove past.

📷Sheep stolen from land between St Columb and Indian Queens, Cornwall.