Thousands of sheep have been stolen across Devon and Cornwall since 2014 – but in only one crime has a suspected been identified.
Between 2014 and 2018, 108 crimes involving sheep rustling were reported to the Force, a Freedom of Information Request revealed. A total of 2,946 sheep were stolen, the figures state.
But in 104 of the 108 thefts, police were unable to identify a suspect with the crime being investigated as far as reasonably possible.
A further two crimes was a named suspect identified and the victim supported action, but the police ran into ‘evidential difficulties’.
In one instance, the victim declined to support any police investigation, while one crime remains under investigation.
THE FIGURES
Year
Crimes
Sheep Stolen
2014
21
559
2015
16
492
2016
19
520
2017
23
548
2018
29
827
THE OUTCOME
Outcome
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Crime investigated as far as reasonably possible. No suspect identified
20
16
17
22
29
Named suspect identified: victim supports action – evidential difficulties
1
0
0
1
0
Under Investigation
0
0
1
0
0
Victim declines/unable to support police investigation. No suspect
0
0
1
0
0
Total
21
16
19
23
29
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