A FLOCK of sheep worth over £3,000 has been stolen from Pennal.

North Wales Police has launched an investigation after farmer Meirion Roberts, of Gyllellog farm, noticed that 49 of his Welsh mountain sheep were missing on Monday morning.

The sheep are believed to have been stolen over the weekend, most likely on Saturday night. Local farmer and Gwynedd councillor Dewi Owen was “very concerned” by the theft.

“Meirion is a good friend of mine, so I was disappointed to learn that nearly 50 of his ewes had gone missing,” said Cllr Owen.

“It’s a big loss, some of those sheep would have been worth £70 or £80 a head.

“It’s very concerning, it’s not the first time I’ve heard of sheep going missing around here.

“A similar amount of sheep were stolen last year from a nearby farm, they were never seen again. Another farmer told me he has lost nearly 90 sheep just this year, gone in two or three different lots at different times.

“It’s very difficult, I spoke to Meirion on Friday and he said the police didn’t have much to go on.

“This is someone’s livelihood, their job, it’s impo­rtant we all group together and try and catch whoever’s responsible. I just hope they get punished accordingly.”

Sgt Rob Taylor of the North Wales Rural Crime Team said he had heard of similar crimes before, but rarely in Meirionnydd region.

“It happens occasionally in the Ogwen Valley but it’s rare to hear of thefts of this scale happening so far south,” he said.

“You need to know what you’re doing to steal that many sheep and we’re appealing for witnesses.”

Anyone with information should call North Wales Police on 101 and quote crime reference number RC15164169.