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