A SUBSTANTIAL reward is being offered by the Forest of Dartmoor Commoners' Association after a spate of sheep stealing hit farms on Dartmoor. Rustlers have snatched more than 80 ewes and lambs in the Dartmoor area since the start of the year, including farms in the Princetown, Four Winds and Cox Tor areas. The association is now offering a £1,000 reward for the 'successful conviction of the person or persons concerned.' David Evans, secretary to the FDCA, said that last year some 200-plus ewes and lambs from four flocks, valued around £12,000, were stolen, and this year already more than 80 sheep had been rustled. But he stressed it was not just the monetary value that concerned his members — it takes years for farmers to replace a flock to graze the land. Mr Evans also urged fellow farmers to report any incidents rather than keep it to themselves as the more incidents that are logged, the more information the police have and the greater the chance of the thieves being caught. He said: 'What people don't appreciate is that the sheep are not wild but that they are farmed sheep. 'Also, in what we call leering, where the ewes lead their lamb to graze in a particular part of the moor, if the older ewes are stolen then they won't be able to show the lambs where to go and they would just wander — it takes generations for sheep to learn which parts of the moor they should breed and feed. 'Rustling can mean farmers face having their breeding stock wiped out and hill farmers, in particular, are already struggling. 'These rustlers have got to know what they are doing, so it is not a question of just taking the sheep and putting them onto a trailer. They would certainly need trained sheepdogs to help round them up.' The recent thefts have led to an appeal by the association for the public, and moor and hill walkers in particular, who see sheep being loaded onto trailers to take note of the vehicle's registration number and report it to the police to check out whether it is genuine. Mr Evans said: 'Dartmoor is kept in the state it is because of the cattle, sheep and ponies who graze on the moor and keeps its tracks and paths clear for people to enjoy. The animals are doing the environment a service.' PC Kevin Reed, beat manager for Tavistock West, which includes the Mary Tavy and Lewdown area, said police are investigating the incidents and working with the association to help solve the crime. He said there could be not only a health danger to the public from the stolen sheep but the thefts posed a real threat to farmers' livelihoods. He urged people to come forward if they have any information. If you have anything to tell the police concerning this crime please telephone Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police on 08452 777444.
