THE farmer who has had 43 of his sheep stolen fears the animals may have been shipped off the island.
Within the last month 18 texel cross ewes and 25 large lambs owned by farmer David Cormode of Glascoe Beg Farm have been stolen from a field containing 220 sheep at Dogmills, Bride.
Police say their inquiries are continuing into the sheep rustling incident.
Farmers are being urged to keep their livestock secure and to report any suspicious activity.
Mr Cormode, 58, described the thefts of his animals worth upwards of £3,500 as ‘disgusting’.
And he added: ‘It’s not just the money, the most important thing is the welfare of the animals. There’s no guarantee they are still on the island. It’s too easy these days to get things off. My suspicion is that they been taken off the island.’
Mr Cormode was born into farming and is well-known in the community in the north of the island. His wife Jane Callow is a vet in Bride and was recently nominated for a Pride in Mann award. Mr Cormode said the animals were taken some time between the first of July and August 20.
He said he had only noticed the sheep were missing as it had taken five trailer loads to take them to the field but only four loads to bring the flock back. ‘It was only then when I realised something was wrong,’ he said.
He said between 40 to 50 sheep could be taken in a trailer on two decks – and it was possible that all 43 stolen animals could have been taken in one go, or possibly over a couple of trips.
Mr Cormode, who has some 450 sheep and rams at Glascoe Beg, said he could recognise most of the stolen sheep individually, including a number of older animals and some black lambs. He said the ewes were not marked but the rams had either green or red markings. These, however, could be clipped out. He said examples of sheep rustling were not unheard of previously. ‘There’s always a few goes missing. A friend of mine had 50 taken last year. The question is how to stop it. Somebody needs to be caught.’
Constable Ysanne Williamson at Ramsey Police Station said: ‘Our inquiries are continuing. The local community has been very supportive. A number of lines of inquiry have been identified.’
She said the theft was distressing not only for the owner but was also of great concern to the local farming community. Anybody with information regarding the sheep should contact Constable Williamson at Ramsey police station on 812234 or alternatively ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.