As farmers on the West Coast of Berbice (WCB) continued to battle flooding, a group of thieves used the opportunity to raid several sheep pens along the coast.

The most recent incident occurred about 23:30h on Monday when thieves broke

into an Armadale family’s animal pen and stole six sheep after the family had retired to bed. The farmer’s wife, Dungandai Ramassar-Ramnarine, told Guyana Times that while she did not see how many persons raided the sheep pen, there were several footprints in the mud.

“[Monday] night around 11:30, I hear the noise. When I hear tramping in the water, meh put on the light and wake up meh husband and when they come down and pitch light, the men already gone with the sheep them,” the woman noted.

She explained that the thieves broke in from the back of the pen to gain access to the livestock. However, after the lights were switched on, the men fled.

“Me thought it was cows, not knowing that it was men carrying away the sheep them,” the farmer’s wife related, noting that the six sheep were all large in size.

Ramassar-Ramnarine explained that a report was made at the Fort Wellington Police Station, but up to late Tuesday afternoon, no rank had visited the family. The Police reportedly contended that the Ramnarines should have branded their livestock.

Meanwhile, residents in Number 30 Village reported similar incidents of sheep theft, claiming that the thieves are taking advantage of the flood situation to pounce on them.