Devastated staff at Forge Mill Farm in West Bromwich are appealing for help to catch thieves who stole five pregnant ewes on the night of Sunday 24 October.

There has been a spate of sheep rustling incidents in Sandwell Valley Country Park since April.  What the criminals probably did not realise was that all of the sheep were pregnant and most likely carrying twins.

Farmers and staff are also concerned for the welfare of the remaining sheep and fear that they may have lost or will lose their lambs due to the stress of the incident.

Forge Mill Farm is fitting extra security cameras and has hired extra security to protect the remaining flock. The farm is looking into new technologies to track and trace any animals that go missing through GPS and special livestock marking paint mixed with microdots, only visible under a microscope, which can be used to identify anyone involved.

In January 2020, during the height of lockdown, these sheep were the stars of the "live with the lambs" series during which Forge Mill Farm shared the joys of the lambing barn with members of the public through Facebook live events and regular video updates.  This devastating loss will mean that the farm will have 10% to 20% fewer lambs this year for visitors to enjoy.

The police are investigating the incident and a separate, but related, incident in Smethwick which took place over the weekend. Any members of the public with any information should call 101 and quote the crime number 20/183 0794/21. Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for culture and tourism Councillor Danny Millard said:

“This is a callous, inhumane and criminal act. Having a farm that is accessible to all our residents provides a real benefit to the all parts of our community. This kind of selfish behaviour will not be tolerated and I urge anyone that has information to contact the police.”

Alex Dunn Farm Manager at Forge Mill farm said:

"This is a devastating loss to the farm and to the people of Sandwell, after all these are their sheep. We are here to serve the public and to provide experiences and educate about food and farming. It is heart-breaking to think that some of the same people we serve might also be responsible for stealing and slaughtering these sheep in such an inhumane manner.

"Please help us catch those involved so we can continue to keep sheep at Sandwell Valley for everybody to enjoy."

The animals taken from Forge Mill Farm are not fit for human consumption and are likely to have been slaughtered in an inhumane way. Don’t buy meat except from a reputable supplier.