Five hundred free range piglets stolen from farm: Hopwas, Lichfield
(WS14 - Thursday, 2 April, 2009)

Police are hunting thieves who stole 500 piglets from a farm at Hopwas near Lichfield.

Raiders broke through a steel barrier and barbed wire fencing and drove across fields to reach the animals at Packington Fields Farm.

The theft was discovered by farm staff when they went to check the young pigs on Friday morning (27 March 2009).

The thieves drove through Hopwas Woods off the main A51 Lichfield to Tamworth Road to reach the fields and police are appealing for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious to contact them.

Now farmer Rob Mercer is considering offering a £5,000 reward for the return of his animals, he said:

"The pigs were just six weeks old, it's heartless what they have done.

"The value of the pigs is at least £25,000 and they were all due to be sold to butchers."

"I'm absolutely gutted about this, I've got no idea who could be behind this.

"What I am fairly certain about is that they are probably on someone else's farm now."

Packington Pork has been given a Freedom Food certificate by the RSPCA. Pigs live outdoors for their entire life and are never fed additives, growth promoters or antibiotics.

Police are also urging anyone who is offered piglets in suspicious circumstances or who has any information to get in touch.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Richard Allsop at Lichfield Police Station, telephone 0300 123 4455.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Packington Fields Farm
Tamworth Road
Lichfield
Staffordshire
WS14