Rustlers target British livestock
Livestock farms are being targeted by professional thieves, as high meat prices coupled with the recession make animal rustling an attractive option.
Recent thefts include 2,000 game birds and 500 piglets, the Times reports.
Sheep have vanished from Wales, Yorkshire, and the West Country. Nine rare breed cattle were stolen from a farm in Lincolnshire. Horses and ponies have been taken in Northamptonshire and Hampshire.
Insurance group NFU Mutual was the first to notice the increase in claims for rustling.
NFU spokesperson Tim Farmer said thieves are quick to catch on to what’s valuable in the marketplace.
“Last year it was oil,” Farmer said. “The year before that it was scrap metal.”
Ewes are currently worth £61 each, compared to £42 a year ago. Pigs have increased from £93 to £117 each, whilst prime beef is up to £938 a carcass, compared to £888 last year.
Category: Business Insurance News, Insurance News
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