Police are hunting brazen thieves who stole a lamb from a field in the Angus glens.
The occupants of a Ford Mondeo car were seen to stop beside a field in Glenisla last Thursday and grab the young animal.
Part of the vehicle registration has been released by officers investigating the bizarre crime, but police are also keen for a witness to the theft to get back in touch with them.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said the incident happened between 4pm and 4.30pm on May 28.
“We are aware someone saw the occupants of a blue Mondeo, part reg LS57, reach into the field and take it, but we need to trace and speak to this witness ASAP,” said police.
Anyone with information should contact 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Farmers had previously been warned to guard against a possible spike in rural crime during the pandemic –including the risk of or one or two animals being taken for personal consumption, or larger-scale rustling.
Rural experts said previous events such as serious flooding or the foot and mouth outbreak had demonstrated crooks were ready to take advantage of such situations.
Insurer NFU Mutual reported that the early stages of lockdown saw a number of reports of livestock thefts, ranging from opportunistic crimes of one or two lambs being taken to large-scale, targeted incidents involving flocks of sheep 50 to 100 strong.
The cost of livestock theft to the farming industry has risen by almost 20% in the past two years, with animals worth almost £3 millon taken in 2019.
Larger scale rustling has been fuelled by factors including a rise in lamb prices and the stretch on police resources in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
