Police are trying to trace the owner of three stolen lambs found in a car – after posting a Twitter picture of the animals with their faces pixelated out.
In an apparent attempt at humour after a busy night-shift, a West Midlands Police traffic unit shared the edited photo on its official social media account of the bizarre sight in the rear of the people carrier.
Police were on patrol in the Yardley area of Birmingham when they spotted the Ford Galaxy’s unusual cargo being transported through the residential streets in the early hours of Tuesday.
A subsequent pursuit of the people carrier ended when it hit a parked car.
The three occupants abandoned the vehicle in Rosedale Road, leaving the livestock – pictured looking none the worse for wear – inside.
After a search of nearby gardens involving a helicopter and police dog units, three male Romanian nationals, aged 22, 27 and 28, were arrested on suspicion of theft and remain in custody.
Meanwhile, the three lambs have since been rehomed at a farm in Sheldon, Birmingham, as officers attempt to trace their owner.
Inspector Paul Southern said: “It’s not every day we recover live stolen property, but the lambs seem none the worse for their adventure.
“We are now trying to trace where they came from and are asking farmers to check their flocks to see if they have any missing.”
Anyone with information to help trace the owner should call police on 101.
