Farmers in Kinross-shire are being urged to be on the alert following fresh livestock thefts in the area.
Police officers issued the warning following the loss of sheep from farmland near to Craigton House, Cleish.
Thieves are said to have struck farmland sometime between Friday November 18 and Monday 21, with at least two animals taken.
It is likely the Cheviot sheep, each with a yellow tag in their left ear bearing the flock number UK542022, were removed via the B9097 Cleish to Balado road.
In the wake of the crime, Police Scotland said local farmers should “be vigilant, check stock and perimeter fencing regularly, repair any damage to property and ensure animals are properly marked” to limit the opportunity for theft.
Sergeant Amanda Nicolson said: “We’d like to appeal to anyone who knows anything about this incident, or the stealing of any livestock, to come forward and speak to us.
“If anyone has seen anything suspicious in the areas where these sheep have been taken from I’d urge them to contact us.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Police Scotland Tayside Division on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Rural crime prevention advice can be accessed from the Police Scotland website.
Colleagues in Highland Perthshire are still investigating the rustling of 115 ewes – valued at more than £11,500 – from farmland near to Comrie.
Hundreds of sheep worth tens of thousands of pounds have been taken from Scots farms in recent months.
