14 Dec 2022
Cost of living crisis sparks rise in livestock theft
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A growing number of farmers have seen sheep thefts across the country, with Lycetts insurance brokers warning the financial impact could be ‘crippling’.
West Midlands sheep farmer Louie Rose had more than sixty sheep taken.
“If I hadn’t been insured, I would have been forced to close the business,” he said.
“The number of sheep stolen suggests this wasn’t an opportunistic theft but a highly organised operation.”
In recent weeks, 116 sheep were stolen from a farm in Kent, costing the farmer £17,000.
Livestock that is grazed or kept at distance from buildings was at particular risk.
Lycetts’ James Treverton said: “Identification is not only essential as proof of ownership, it can also act as a visible deterrent.”
Alex Black / Farmers Guardian
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