Sheep rustling 'costing farmers £5 million per year'

Approximately 30,000 sheep have been stolen in Britain since the start of the year, according to reports.

The theft of livestock is believed to have cost farmers £5 million ($7.8 million) this year alone, The Mirror reports.

A flock of sheep with a value of £100,000 ($155,400) was stolen in Lincolnshire last month in what is believed to be the largest case of sheep rustling in the last 25 years.

A spokesperson for insurance company NFU Mutual suggested that the current high price of meat could have led to an increase in sheep rustling, saying: "In the last decade, livestock rustling has been at historically low levels while farm thieves concentrated on stealing quad bikes, tractors and power tools.

"High meat prices and improved security appear to be leading to a resurgence in livestock rustling."

Chief Superintendent Mark Dennett of Northumbria Police said that he had never seen livestock theft on such a wide scale in 29 years as a serving police officer.

"I believe this is organised crime. The gangs must be using large vehicles," he added, expressing his belief that thieves may be exporting animals abroad to sell.

Dartmoor farmer John Heard dyed his entire flock of sheep orange earlier this year in order to deter thieves. He said that the idea was suggested by his son James.

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