A farmer is urging people to be extra vigilant after sheep were stolen from his field.
Police have also issued a warning about rural crime after the lambs and ewes were stolen from a field at Dandy Farm on Mill Lane, Adlington, run by Paul and Sarah-Jane Slater.
Mr Slater, 50, who has run the farm for 17 years, said 12 Beltex sheep have been stolen from his farm in recent weeks - and the cost runs into thousands of pounds.
He said: “It costs a lot when these sheep are stolen.
“The ewes can be worth £400 each for breeding and the lambs could have become breeding stock for us here at the farm or for selling so the costs runs into thousands of pounds.
“You live with these animals 24/7 and then someone comes along and steals them. And then we don’t know what happens to them. If they are killing them themselves, it’s barbaric.
“We think it’s organised gangs that are doing this. It’s not easy, they know what they are doing.
“We need the public to be extra vigilant.”
Police increased patrols in rural areas as part of a dedicated operation to stop sheep being stolen in the run-up to Easter.
Sgt Simon Degg, from Macclesfield Police, said: “A few years ago there were a lot of sheep stolen in the run up to Easter and we’ve been targeting farmers fields, particularly around Adlington to make sure things are secure.
“We’re pleased to say there’s been a reduction in sheep thefts but there’s more to be done.
“Even one or two animals being stolen can affect a farmer’s profits, it’s very serious.
“People will take the odd lamb in the back of a car but there are organised gangs who turn up with wagons and take a lot of animals. The animals are likely being stolen for meat but we don’t think they are ending up in proper slaughter houses.
“And if they have been treated with antibiotics and end up in the food chain, then it’s very dangerous.
“We urge people to be extra vigilant.”
Sgt Degg said police in Macclesfield are focusing on rural crime.
After lambing season the focus will move to targeting poachers.
He said: “We are committed to rural crime and have more plans to run operations to target issues such as farm machinery being stolen and sheep worrying. We urge people to contact us if they see something suspicious.”
A ewe and a lamb were stolen from Dandy Farm overnight on Friday, March 20 and three ewes and seven lambs were taken sometime during the night of Monday, March 30.
Contact police on 101.
