A scandal has erupted in the small town of Hornachos (Badajoz province) after a local resident was arrested on suspicion of brazenly stealing 41 lambs. The stolen flock is valued at approximately €5,500. According to the investigation, the man not only transported the animals from a private farm but also tried to disguise them among his own livestock to later sell them.
It all began when the farm owner noticed that part of his flock had disappeared. The theft was immediately reported to the police, and officers from the ROCA unit, which specializes in combating agricultural theft, launched an investigation. They stepped up checks on nearby roads and farms, suspecting the stolen lambs might be quickly moved elsewhere or mixed with other livestock.
Transport inspection
Several days later, on November 21, police attention was drawn to a truck with sheep traveling through the Campillo de Llerena municipality. Upon inspection, it was found that about forty of the animals bore distinctive markings previously applied by the owner of the stolen flock. This was the first solid evidence linking the suspect to the theft.
Police examined the livestock transport documents closely. During the check, they discovered the paperwork was improperly completed and some of the information did not match the actual origin of the sheep. This allowed investigators to finally connect the suspect to the disappearance of the lambs from Hornachos.
Cover-up scheme
According to investigators, the suspect acted with careful planning. After the theft, he hid the stolen lambs among other animals on his family farm. The man then produced fake transportation documents to legalize the further sale of the livestock. However, swift police action and attention to detail quickly solved the crime.
Based on the collected evidence and interrogations, the man has been charged with theft of agricultural property. All case materials have already been submitted to the court in Llerena, where the suspect will have to answer for his actions.
Next steps
Police are now investigating whether the detainee is linked to other similar crimes in the region. The owner of the farm, from whom the lambs were stolen, has already had part of his flock returned. The remaining animals will be given back after all necessary procedures are complete.
Local residents note that such thefts are rare in rural areas but always attract significant attention. Farmers are stepping up security measures, and police regularly carry out raids and inspections to prevent further thefts.
If you weren’t aware, the ROCA unit was established within the Guardia Civil specifically to combat crimes in the agricultural sector. These groups operate throughout Spain, helping farmers protect their property and responding quickly to incidents involving livestock or equipment theft. Thanks to their efforts, the clearance rate for such crimes has risen significantly in recent years.
