Calves killed at Worcestershire farm in suspected meat thieves attack

Insp Tom Clayton said the crime had understandably caused upset and concern

Two calves have been killed at a farm by intruders thought to be targeting animals for black market meat.

At least two other calves were badly hurt at the site in Frankley, Worcestershire, overnight.

"Meat was taken from the two found dead," West Mercia Police confirmed.

Officers are investigating whether the attack was linked to another at a farm in Frankley where three calves were killed on 11 September.

In that attack, the offenders were interrupted before they could get away with any meat, said police.

The latest attack happened at a site off Frankley Green Lane between 18:00 BST on Sunday and 08:00 BST on Monday.

Two badly injured calves will probably need to be put down, police said, while other calves were also hurt.

'Emotive crime'

Insp Tom Clayton, the lead for crime prevention in north Worcestershire, said such attacks in the area were "very rare" but had understandably caused much concern.

"It's a very emotive crime both in terms of the animal welfare aspect, the fact that it's people's livelihoods and the fear it puts into the community," he said.

"We are responding vigorously by putting on a lot of local patrols and upping our vigilance."

The area's location to a lot of major arterial routes "where criminals can come in and out quite quickly" could be why the farms were targeted, he added.

The force has appealed for witnesses and anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage to contact officers.

"It's likely the offenders would have needed a reasonably sized vehicle, possibly even a van or pick-up, to make off with this quantity of meat," a spokesperson said.